By Bariyo Brian Tumuramye
Kampala: Vipers has turned the focus to the StarTimes Uganda Premier League after being crushed out of the CAF Champions League.
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The venoms lost 1-0 to Sudan’s Al Hilal in Omdurman on Sunday to bow out 2-0 on aggregate after the hosts had also won the reverse fixture at St. Mary’s stadium, Kitende last week.
On a day the Ugandan champions missed key players including skipper Halid Lwaliwa and Karim Watambala among others, Fred Kajoba named an attack-minded side with Daniel Sserunkuma partnering Congolese Ceaser Mazonki.
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Ibrahim Orit started as a right wing-back on the day with Disan Galiwango employed in the same role on the left while Rashid Toha, Bashir Asiku and Aziz Kayondo played in a back three.
Vipers fathomed a couple of opportunities in the first half but Mazonki and Sserunkuma were guilty of being lethargic while at the other end, the Sudanese also failed to capitalise on some poor defending.
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But the tie was settled in the 63rd minutes Hani Al Dhahi scored the winner capitalizing on an unintended back pass from Jamil Kaliisa.
The Ugandan champions didn’t recover and went on to lose the game while Al Hilal qualified for the pre-group stages where they face the winner between Ghana’s Asante Kotoko and Nouadhibou of Mauritania.
