Startimes Uganda Premier League and Stanbic Uganda Cup champions Vipers SC will begin their 2025/26 CAF Champions League campaign against African Stars FC of Namibia in the first preliminary round, following Saturday’s draw in Tanzania.
The Venoms will travel to Namibia for the first leg between September 19–21, before hosting the return leg at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, from September 26–28.
The aggregate winner will advance to face either Power Dynamos FC (Zambia) or ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) in the second preliminary round.
Vipers return to continental football after sealing a domestic double last season, winning both the league and the Uganda Cup.
They are no strangers to this level, having reached the CAF Champions League group stage in the 2022/23 season after eliminating Olympic de Bangui (Central African Republic) and TP Mazembe (DR Congo).
As part of their preparations, the club appointed Belgian coach Ivan Jacky Minnaert as head coach, assisted by John Ayala Luyinda and Fred Muhumuza, both instrumental in last season’s domestic success.
The squad has been reinforced with several signings: Enock Ssebagala, Nigerian winger Odili Chukwuma, Kevin Dasylva Bady, Liberian striker Mark Yallah, and recent acquisition Taddeo Lwanga.
Key players from last season including captain Milton Karisa, Patrick Mbowa, and Abdul Karim Watambala have committed their futures to the club by extending their contracts.
It should be noted that a record 62 clubs from across the continent will feature in this season’s campaign, underscoring the competition’s growing appeal.
Record title winners Al Ahly of Egypt and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, both top-ranked sides, have been handed byes into the Second Preliminary Round where defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt will face Rwanda’s APR.
The draw also delivered several tantalising fixtures in the early stages, North African powerhouses could collide early as Sierra Leone’s East End Lions will face Tunisia’s US Monastirienne, with the winners earning a shot at the winners of the clash between Ghana’s Bibiani Gold Stars and Algerian giants JS Kabylie.
Liberia’s FC Fassell will look to overcome Senegal’s ASC Jaraaf for a potential meeting with Algeria’s MC Alger, while Benin’s Dadjè FC and Libya’s representative, Libya 1, clash for the chance to face Togo’s ASCK or Morocco’s RS Berkane.
Elsewhere, Nigeria’s Remo Stars meet Comoros’ US Zilimadjou for the right to play Sundowns, while Zimbabwe’s Simba Bhora tackle Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs in a tie that leads to a showdown with Botswana’s Gaborone United — and ultimately Tanzania’s Simba SC in the next round.
Zambia’s Power Dynamos begin against Ivorian heavyweights ASEC Mimosas with the winner of the match between Namibia’s African Stars and Vipers FC of Uganda waiting in the wings.
Rahimo FC of Burkina Faso will face Gabon’s AS Mangasport with the winners taking on the victor in Niger’s Forces Armées meeting Tunisian giants Espérance Sportive de Tunis (EST).
Teams that exit in the first two rounds will this season receive USD 100,000 to cover their logistical costs as CAF seeks to encourage more clubs to take part, which is reflected in the record number of teams registered for the 2025/26 season.
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