CAF Champions League: Power Dynamos hold off Vipers to qualify for group stage

Zambian champions Power Dynamos became the first club to confirm their place in the CAF Champions League group stage on Friday following a 1-1 second leg draw with Uganda’s Vipers SC at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Moses Shumah’s second half strike gave the hosts just enough cushion to hold off a late charge from the Ugandan champions to advance 3-2 on the aggregate score after a 2-1 first leg victory in Uganda last weekend. The hosts’ supporters did have to suffer through a late rally from Vipers that nearly saw the tie go into penalty kicks.

Uganda national team midfielder Abdul Karim Watambala pulled a goal back for the visitors with an excellent strike from distance in the final twenty minutes, sparking hope for Vipers who did put Dynamos under quite a bit of pressure.

But in the end, Dynamos just held on to become the first Zambian club to qualify for the group stage of Africa’s top club competition since ZESCO United in the 2019-20 season. Dynamos previously upset Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas in the first qualifying round to set the stage for Friday’s moment of glory.

The group stage draw will take place on November 3, where the Zambian champions will be eager to see who their opponents will be on the biggest stage of African club football.