Vipers SC sack Denis Lavagne after Champions League disappointment

Ugandan champions Vipers SC have sacked head coach Denis Lavagne just months after appointing the Frenchman in June, following a disappointing start to the new campaign.

Lavagne’s departure comes after Vipers failed to progress to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, dealing an early blow to the club’s ambitions of making an impact in continental football.

The decision also follows an inconsistent start to their domestic title defence, with the club sitting fifth in the Ugandan Premier League after collecting 11 points from six matches.

Vipers entered the new season with high expectations after an impressive 2025-26 campaign in which they went unbeaten in the league, underlining their dominance in Ugandan football.

However, their early elimination from Africa’s premier club competition and their position in the domestic standings appear to have put pressure on the technical bench, leading to Lavagne’s dismissal.

The French coach was appointed in June with the task of maintaining Vipers’ domestic dominance while strengthening their competitiveness on the continental stage.

His short spell in charge has now ended before the club could establish the kind of consistency that characterised their previous league campaign.

Vipers will be eager to respond to the setback as they seek to close the gap on the teams above them and return to winning ways in the league.

The club’s immediate priority will be to find a replacement capable of restoring momentum and ensuring that their domestic ambitions remain on track.

With the season still in its early stages, Vipers have time to recover from their disappointing start. However, the departure of Lavagne means the club must now make another important decision over the direction of its technical leadership.

The Ugandan champions will hope a change in the dugout can help them rediscover the form that made them an unbeaten force last season.