Vipers have never gone past the preliminary stage of the CAF Champions league, although their only time of asking was in 2016 when they lost to Enyimba 2-1 on aggregate.
Sudanese champions El Merriekh are their opponents this Wednesday at the same stage with hopes of going all the away to the group stages.
Questions whether Vipers can leave to see the dream happen can only be answered by their Mexican tactician Martinez Espinoza the biggest percentage of his team who are at this stage for the first time.
The league coach of the month of October is preaching a good result from the team that boasts of national team players in Moses Waiswa and skipper Taddeo Lwanga
“We go into this game seeking for a good result away in Khartoum, it is important that we won our last league game therefore we go into this game with our spirits high,” Espinoza told the club website before departure on Monday night, he added. “The players are in good shape and ready to fight for a positive result.”
Vipers won’t be with first choice custodian Fabian Mutombora who got injured in national team duty with the Burundian U23 side, left back Aggrey Madoi, midfielder Tom Masiko, and right back Fred Okot also didn’t make the trip
If Vipers go past this stage over two legs, they will play the winner between CS Constantine (Algeria) and GAMTEL (Gambian) with a group stage slot in sight.
KCCA FC have played in the group stages of the CAF Champions League from a Ugandan perspective, and Vipers will be looking at emulating that
Vipers Travelling Squad
Goalkeepers: Bashir Ssekagya and Derrick Ochan
Defenders: Ibrahim Kiyemba, Livingstone Mulondo, Geoffrey Wasswa, Bashir Asiku, Halid Lwaliwa and Yayo Lutimba
Midfielders: Taddeo Lwanga, Moses Waiswa, Rahmat Ssenfuka, Duncan Sseninde, Brian Nkuubi and Abraham Ndugwa
Strikers: Tito Okello, Brian Kalumba, Noah Wafula and Dan Sserunkuma
Technical Team: Javier Martinez Espinoza (Team Manager), Abu Wamboya Mubarak (Assistant Coach), Moses Oloya (Goalkeeping Coach) and Mathias Kasagga (physiotherapist)
