Saturday, March 18
*Vipers (Uganda) 1-1 Raja Casablanca(Morocco)
*Simba (Tanzania) 7-0 Horoya (Guinea)
Group C Table
- Raja Casablanca 🇲🇦 – 13pts
- Simba 🇹🇿 – 9
- Horoya 🇬🇳 – 4
- Vipers 🇺🇬 – 2
Vipers scored their first goal in the CAF Champions League group stages following their 1-1 draw with Raja Casablanca at St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende.
Abubakar Lawal levelled at the stroke of halftime when he was at the end of Isa Mubiru’s delivery to tap home.
Vipers had gone behind after 19 minutes through Soufiane Benjdida who was unmarked when he received a cross from Houssie Rahim to bundle in the opener.
It’s was an improved performance for Vipers who lost the reverse fixture 5-0 in Morocco.
The Venoms could have walked away with maximum points but proved wasteful against a side that fielded almost their second team having sealed qualification with two games to spare
However, Vipers chances of reaching the knockout were ended after Simba obliterated Horoya 7-0 to clinch the remaining spot to Quarterfinals.
The Renaissance of Vipers
Two goals in as many games reads the stats for Vipers under coach Alex Isabirye, and its a good improvement for the Venoms who had not scored in the previous eight.
Such is the level of improvement at Kitende, as the side put up a good show including that goal that was celebrated with a lot of joy by Club President Lawrence Mulindwa.
The second half was all Vipers, and the side created a couple of chances but couldn’t find the winner.
Bright Anukani, when picked by Ashraf Mandela, couldn’t squeeze a shot by the keeper.
And the former KCCA midfielder forced the keeper earlier on into a good save from freekick in a good area after Martin Kizza was fouled at the box edge.
Lawal, Yunus Sentamu, Martin Kizza, Olivier Osomba all came close while Hilary Mukundane headed just over after a neat delivery from Sentamu.
The qualification hopes might be over, but it’s the start of a new era under new coach Alex Isabirye who a week back replaced Beto Bianchi.
In Tanzania, Simba SC proved too good for Guinea’s Horoya with 7-0 beating at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, a win that sent the Msimbazi into the Quarterfinals.
Clatous Chama scored a hat-trick while Jean Beleke and Sadio Kanoute added braces to steer Roberto Martinez’s charges through
