Vipers Sports Club signs Mauritanian Star Mohamed Salem Ekbad ahead of CAF Champions League Showdown with Botswana Giants Jwaneng Galaxy
UGANDA - In a ground-breaking move for Ugandan football, Vipers Sports Club has secured the services of Mauritanian national Mohamed Salem Ekbad, marking a historic moment as he becomes the first player from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to sign for a Ugandan club. The 25-year-old talented attacker has signed a two-year contract with the StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) champions, adding a new dimension to the club's already formidable forward line.
Ekbad arrives at Vipers SC from Mauritania League 1 side, FC Nouadhibou, where he showcased his exceptional skills for the past two seasons, clinching the league title on two occasions. During his time with the country's giants, he demonstrated his scoring prowess by netting an impressive 17 goals across two league campaigns, including an astounding 11 goals in the final season.
The Mauritanian forward's career trajectory has been on a steady rise. He previously featured for FC Sahel in the 2018/19 season, helping them secure promotion to the first division as champions, with an impressive tally of 12 goals. In the subsequent season, which marked FC Sahel's first in the topflight, Ekbad continued to shine, scoring eight times.
His remarkable performances did not go unnoticed, as in the second year at the top level, Ekbad registered an impressive 13 goals and earned call-ups to both the national Under 23 side and the national team consisting of locally-based players from the North West African country.
Ekbad's exploits also extended to the international stage as he featured for Nouadhibou in the World Arab Club Champions Cup qualifiers, representing his club with distinction. Despite the team's elimination by Al Kuwait, Ekbad's talent and scoring ability were evident throughout the competition.
With an impressive record of 50 league goals for two different teams over five seasons, Ekbad is a highly sought-after addition to Vipers SC's already formidable squad. He joins an exciting and competitive forward line that includes other enthralling talents such as Karim Ndugwa, Cromwell Rwothomio, Yunus Sentamu, Desire Tety, Milton Karisa, and Giancarlo Lopez Rodriguez, among others.
Vipers SC's recent transfer activity has been nothing short of impressive, with Ekbad becoming the club's seventh acquisition during the latest transfer window. He follows in the footsteps of players like Giancarlo Lopez Rodriguez, Luiz Otavio alias Tinga, Richard Matovu, David Bagoole, Grant Matsiko, and Paul Patrick Mbowa, who have all joined the club, further strengthening its already formidable squad.
The entire Vipers SC fraternity extends a warm welcome to Mohamed Salem Ekbad, recognizing the significance of his arrival and the potential impact he can have on the team's quest for continued success. As the club continues to make strides in the pursuit of excellence, Ekbad's arrival adds a fresh dimension to the team's attacking prowess and elevates the excitement among fans as they eagerly anticipate the new season.
Meanwhile, in an exciting development for Ugandan football, StarTimes Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC are set to face off against Botswana giants Jwaneng Galaxy in the first round of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League. The draw has pitted these two teams against each other in a highly anticipated clash that will take place between August 18th and 27th.
The first leg will see Vipers travel to Botswana, with the matches scheduled for August 18th-20th and August 25th-27th. The return leg will take place in Uganda a week later, between August 25th and 27th. Both teams will undoubtedly be eager to put on impressive performances and secure their spot in the next round.
The winner of this first-round tie will face tough competition in the second round, as they will take on Djabal from Comoros and one of South Africa's footballing giants, Orlando Pirates. The road to the group stages of the CAF Champions League is filled with formidable opponents, and Vipers will need to display their best footballing skills to progress further in the competition.
The CAF Champions League features 54 clubs from 42 Member Associations, making it a highly competitive and prestigious tournament. The first round will see 22 teams advancing to meet the ten top-ranked teams that have received a bye to the second round. Among the ten seeded teams are reigning champions Al Ahly from Egypt, Wydad Casablanca from Morocco, CR Belouizdad from Algeria, Esperance from Tunisia, TP Mazembe from DR Congo, and Pyramids from Egypt. Additionally, Petro De Luanda from Angola, Simba from Tanzania, and Denis Onyango's Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa are also among the top-seeded teams.
The matches leading up to the group stages are crucial, as the winners of this round will secure their place directly in the competition's group stages. Vipers SC will be eager to leave their mark on the tournament and progress to the next level, where they will have the opportunity to compete against some of the finest clubs in African football.
The upcoming fixture against Jwaneng Galaxy presents a significant challenge for Vipers, but it also represents a chance for the Ugandan club to demonstrate its prowess on the continental stage. Ugandan football fans will undoubtedly rally behind Vipers SC as they embark on this thrilling journey in the 2023/24 CAF Champions League. The team's performances in these critical matches will be closely watched, and hopes are high for a successful campaign in this prestigious tournament.
