Vipers to play without Mutombora at CAF Champions League

FOOTBALL

CAF Champions League

Preliminary round

First leg

Al Merreikh v Vipers

Return leg

December 4

Vipers v Al Merreikh

KHARTOUM - First choice goalkeeper Fabien Mutombora  will not be part of Vipers preliminary round of the CAF Champions League tie against Sudan giants Al Merreikh this Wednesday.

The Burundian International was not part of Vipers' 18 man  squad that was expected to have arrived in Sudan on Tuesday ahead of the tie due to injury. Mutombora was joined by Aggrey Madoi, Tom Masiko, Davis Kasirye, Joseph Jjanjali as some of other players that didn't make the trip to Khartoum.

Vipers will be making their third appearance on continent although the best they have done is to qualify for to the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup which they did last year.

A decent result for Vipers after both legs will see them qualify to the final round (first round) to take on either CS Constantine from Algeria or Gambian Gamtel  FC as they seek to become the second Ugandan club to qualify for the group stages after KCCA

A minimum of $550,000 (sh2bn) cash prize awaits Vipers should they go past the two rounds of qualification and make it to the CAF Champions League group stages.

The cash on offer from oil giant Total has the winning team bagging $2.25m (sh8.4bn), runner-up $1.25m (sh4.7bn).

Losing semi-finalists are assured of $875,000 (sh3.3bn), quarter-finalist $675,000 (sh2.5bn) while the third and fourth placed teams in the group will each get $550,00 (sh2bn).

KCCA who are the other Ugandan representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup will play either Tanzanian side Mtibwa Sugar  or Northern Dynamo from Seychelles in the first round next month  after receiving a bye.

Vipers  Squad

 Goalkeepers: Bashir Ssekagya Derrick Ochan

Defenders:  Ibrahim Kiyemba, Livingstone Mulondo, Geoffrey Wasswa, Bashir Asiku, Halid Lwalilwa, Yayo Lutimba

Midfielders: Taddeo Lwanga, Moses Waiswa, Rahmat Ssenfuka, Duncan Sseninde ,Brian Nkuubi ,Abraham Ndugwa

Strikers: Tito Okello, Brian Kalumba, Noah Wafula, Dan Sserunkuma

Technical Team:  Javier Martinez Espinoza- Team Manager Abu Wamboya Mubarak - Assistant Coach Moses Oloya- Goalkeeping Coach Mathias Kasagga- physiotherapist