CAF Champions League Preliminary second round | Second Leg
- Power Dynamos 1-1 Vipers [Agg 3-2]
Abdul Karim Watambala’s late strike proved too little, too late for Vipers SC, as the Ugandan champions bowed out of the CAF Champions League following a 1-1 draw with Power Dynamos in Ndola on Friday, sealing a 3-2 aggregate win for the Zambian side.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Kitende, Vipers needed a strong away performance to overturn the deficit and reach the group stages for only the second time in their history.
But despite flashes of intent, they couldn’t find the cutting edge needed to turn the tie around.
The first half at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium was tight and cautious, with Power Dynamos happy to sit deep and protect their lead, while Vipers struggled to create clear chances. Both sides were wary, knowing one mistake could change everything.
The breakthrough came in the 68th minute when Moses Shumah fired home to give Power Dynamos a 1-0 lead and extend their aggregate advantage to 3-1. That left Vipers chasing the game, throwing men forward in search of a lifeline.
Their effort finally paid off in the 80th minute when Watambala calmly slotted in the equaliser, briefly reigniting hope of a comeback. But the clock was against them.
Power Dynamos managed the final minutes expertly, closing down spaces and denying Vipers the second goal that would have forced extra time.
In the end, Vipers were left to regret missed chances from the first leg and a lack of sharpness across both matches.
The draw offered pride, but not progress, as their continental journey ended one step short of the group stages.
For Power Dynamos, it was a composed and disciplined performance, building on their away win in Uganda and managing the return leg with maturity.
The Zambian champions now turn their attention to the group stage draw on Monday, 3 November 2025.
