Power Dynamos hold Vipers to reach TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage

Power Dynamos booked their place in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage after a 1-1 draw with Vipers SC in Zambia sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory in the second preliminary round on Friday. 

The Zambian side carried a 2-1 lead from last week’s first leg in Uganda and managed the return tie smartly, striking first before seeing out the contest despite a late Vipers reply.

With the visitors needing to chase the game, the first half unfolded cautiously and finished goalless as Power protected their advantage and Vipers struggled to create clear chances.

The hosts made the key move midway through the second period when Moses Shumah broke the deadlock on 68 minutes, pushing the aggregate score to 3-1 and shifting the pressure heavily onto the Ugandans.

Vipers responded with urgency and were rewarded in the 80th minute as Abdul Karim Watambala levelled on the day to set up a tense finish.

The equaliser restored a sliver of hope for the visitors, who needed one more goal to force extra time, but Power Dynamos tightened up and closed the final minutes with composure, limiting Vipers to half openings and managing territory effectively.

The result confirms Power’s return to the CAF Champions League group phase, achieved with an away win in the first leg and a controlled home performance in the second.

Shumah’s strike ultimately proved decisive, forcing Vipers to chase the tie and leaving them short despite their late push.

For Power Dynamos, progression maintains momentum and guarantees a minimum six-match group campaign against the continent’s elite.

For Vipers, the away draw offered pride but not enough to overturn the deficit, the Ugandan side paying for lapses across both legs after a promising start to the tie.

Power Dynamos will know their group opponents on Monday, 03 November 2025 when the Group Stage Draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League is held.