Who is next in the Vipers hot seat?

Denis Lavagne’s future is under scrutiny after Vipers were eliminated by FC Nouadhibou, leaving the Venoms to rebuild their continental campaign around a domestic title challenge, writes ELLY KYEYUNE.

Vipers SC’s early exit from the Caf Champions League has quickly turned the spotlight from the players to the man on the bench. Coach Denis Lavagne arrived at St Mary’s Stadium-Kitende with a clear assignment: guide the Ugandan champions beyond the preliminary rounds and towards the Caf Champions League group stage.

Instead, Vipers are already out, and the Frenchman’s future is likely to come under scrutiny. The Venoms were held to a goalless draw by Mauritanian champions FC Nouadhibou on Sunday, September 13, a result that condemned them to elimination on the away-goals rule after the tie finished 1-1 on aggregate.

Vipers had been expected to take advantage of home ground in the first leg but could only manage a 1-1 draw at Kitende. Nouadhibou then produced the result they needed in the return leg, defending resolutely to frustrate the Ugandan side.

The disappointment is particularly significant because Vipers’ recruitment and preparations were built around making a serious Champions League push. Instead, Lavagne’s continental campaign has ended at the first hurdle.

The setback also adds to concerns raised during the club’s recent continental outings. Since unveiling Lavagne as head coach, Vipers have struggled to produce the desired results away from Uganda, including their failure to progress from the CECAFA Kagame Cup group stages in Kigali.

That record will inevitably fuel questions about whether Lavagne remains the right man to lead the Venoms’ next phase. The coach may now have to shift his attention entirely to the Uganda Premier League, where winning the domestic title could become the clearest route back to continental football next season.

But whether the Vipers hierarchy is prepared to give him the time to complete that assignment remains the bigger question. The club invested heavily in assembling a squad capable of competing on the continent.

With that objective now gone, patience could be tested if domestic results do not immediately match expectations. For Lavagne, therefore, the pressure is no longer simply about getting Vipers into the Champions League group stage.

It is about proving that he can still deliver the success expected at Kitende. Meanwhile, Uganda’s other continental representative, Kitara FC, have provided a contrasting story.

Kitara defeated Mogadishu City Club 2-0 at Hoima City stadium on Saturday to complete a 4-1 aggregate victory in the Caf Confederation Cup first preliminary round, following their 2-1 first-leg win.

Kalema opened the scoring in the 29th minute before Zaga sealed the victory with a spectacular volley in the 62nd. Kitara now face record African champions Al Ahly in the second preliminary round, with the first leg scheduled for October 16 to 18 and the return leg in Cairo from October 23 to 25.

But at Vipers, the immediate concern is closer to home: whether Lavagne will still be in the hot seat when the Venoms begin their next major challenge. For a club whose continental ambitions helped shape its recruitment, another season of waiting is unlikely to be the preferred option.

This version deliberately makes Lavagne’s job security the main narrative, while using Kitara’s progress as a contrasting sidebar rather than allowing it to dilute the Vipers angle.

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