Sunday September 13, 2026
- Stade Cheikha Ouid Boidiya, Nouakchott 8pm [EAT]
- [First leg ended: 1-1]
Vipers lock horns with Mauritania’s Nouadhibou in Nouakchott in the second leg of the preliminary round in a fixture they can’t afford to blink on Sunday.
The first leg at Kitende ended in one-all draw which the left the Mauritanian champions with the advantage and the Venoms must score to go through.
Denis Lavagne’s men were below par in the first leg clash a week ago and must improve to get through to the next round or pack early and leave the competition.
Milton Karisa, the club captain who came on late in the first game at home understands the task ahead and has cautioned his teammates to avoid the mistakes that cost them victory seven days ago.
“We have really tried but few mistakes on the pitch cost us to concede and we have had a good experience for the return leg,” he told the club media.
“Every day we get better even when we meet them again today or tomorrow, I urge my fellow players that we stay motivated,” he added before he described the reverse fixture as a learning experience.
“It is a learning moment for us. We have to pick ourselves up, remain motivated and focus on the return leg. We know what is at stake and we have to believe that we can get a positive result in Nouakchott.”
To get through and meet either of Rivers United (Nigeria) or San Pedro (Ivory Coast), Vipers need a win or a score draw of more than a goal.
However, a 1-1 draw takes the game to penalties due a tie on aggregate with the same score line from last meeting.
Lavagne is expected to maintain literally the same eleven that started the first game but will have a decision to make on whether he goes with a double pivot of Marvin Youngman and Joel Sserunjogi or two number 10s in Karim Watambala and Farouk Miya like he did in the previous outing.
Key facts and figures
- Both Vipers (2023) and Nouadhibou (2024) have featured in the Caf Champions League group stages before.
- Nouadhibou are unbeaten in their past 25 home games in all competitions [W16, D9]
- Four of the nine draws have been goalless, a result that could eliminate Vipers if they get it.
Vipers Probable XI
Mbaba (GK), Mangoba, Mwere, Daslyva, Mukundane, Sserunjogi, Youngman, Watambala, Miya, Karisa, Chukwuma.
