Uganda’s representatives on the continent have an opportunity to stake their claims for group stage action as they engage in double first-round encounters against Algeria’s CS Constantine and Tanzania’s Mtibwa Sugar.
After eliminating Sudanese side El Merriekh, champions Vipers Sports Club has to jump yet another hurdle against Arab opponents as they attempt to emulate KCCA FC by becoming only the second Ugandan side to feature in the Caf Champions League group stage.
Vipers play their first leg game away in Algeria this Friday well aware that North Africa has been a hostile hunting ground for Ugandan clubs, but the Venoms will be inspired by KCCA’s recent forays in the Maghreb region, where they have given a good account of themselves.
The Venoms sit second in the Uganda Premier League while their opponents Constantine are placed eighth in the Algerian Ligue 1.
Table-topping KCCA on the other hand can feel more confident as they return to the continent by way of the Confederation Cup, and having been exempted from the preliminary round, host Mtibwa Sugar in a first round first leg encounter at Lugogo where they will be clear favourites.
The Tanzanians will be no pushovers though, having comfortably overcome with Djibouti’s Northern Dynamo 5-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round.