Overview:

Vipers SC will have a huge mountain to climb in their CAF Champions League contest against Power Dynamos after falling to the Zambian outfit on Sunday.

CAF Champions League

First Leg Result

Vipers SC 1-2 Power Dynamos

Second leg, Friday 24, 2025

Power Dynamos vs Vipers SC

Vipers SC’s hopes of progressing to the CAF Champions League group stages suffered a setback after a 2-1 home defeat to Zambia’s Power Dynamos in the first leg of the second preliminary round at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Sunday night.

Vipers players acknowledge their fans after the match.

The Venoms had looked on course for a valuable win when Yunus Sentamu broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half, pouncing on a loose ball after the visitors failed to clear their lines. 

Striker Yunus Sentamu celebrates his goal.

The goal sparked optimism among the home faithful, who had endured a frustrating first half of limited hances and wasted openings. But the advantage was short-lived. 

Just eight minutes later, Power Dynamos’ forward Moses Shuma capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home the equalizer past Derrick Kiggundu. The setback rattled the Venoms, who soon found themselves on the back foot.

In a cruel twist of fate, Vipers conceded again with 13 minutes left when left-back Derrick Ndahiro inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. 

The thousands of fans that turned up were left deflated by the result.

A teasing cross from the left caught Kiggundu in no man’s land, and the defender’s attempt to intervene only diverted it in.

The hosts pushed hard for a late response, introducing Enock Ssebagala and debutant Arafat Usama to inject pace and urgency, but the Zambian champions held firm to take a slender yet crucial lead back home.

Vipers now face an uphill task in Friday’s return leg in Kitwe, where they must win by at least two clear goals to stay alive in the continental competition.