Battle lines drawn, as Nsingizini, Scottland clash

Defending Zimbabwean champions Scottland FC, will be looking to book a place in the CAF Champions League second round at the expense of their Eswatini counterparts Nsingizini Hotspurs, when the two sides clash at the Somhlolo Stadium this afternoon.

Scottland cary a 1-0 lead from the first leg played at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday, when Cameroonian forward Neville Tengeg came off the bench to score the winner in the 67th minute.

Nsingizini played most of the match with 10 men, after Kingsley Kwakyi was shown a straight red card, for what the referee deemed as a dangerous challenge on Scottland’s Moses Shidolo.

Scottland will likely be without Knowledge Musona, who also missed the first leg to a hamstring problem.

Interestingly, last year, then Zimbabwean champions Simba Bhora arrived In Eswatini with a 1-0 lead but were booted out of the tournament by Hotspurs after a penalty shootout.

Scottland coach Norman Mapeza though, is not reading much into that.

“Simba Bhora came here last season leading 1-0 but football is different. I thought maybe with a bit of luck they could have progressed, because they conceded very late in the game,” Mapeza told journalists at yesterday’s pre-match post conference.

“But look, we are here and we are to play a game of football. We saw what happened when we played in Harare, maybe with a bit of luck we could have won maybe 2-0 or 3-0.

Neville Tengeg celebrates after netting the winner in the first leg at the National Sports Stadium. Picture by Fanzone

“But I’m happy with what we are carrying as of now. So much will be on the opponents, not on us,” added Mapeza.

Nsingizini coach Mandla Qhogi is confident his charges can overturn the deficit and progress to the next stage of CAF’s premier club competition.

“I’m confident in our chances of changing the scoreline that we suffered in Zimbabwe. I know we are playing against a Scottland side that has got a very good coach and experienced players but we are looking forward to the challenge,” said Qhogi.

“I would also want to thank the people from Eswatini who drove to Harare to support us last week. And I’m sure with their support, we can also progress to the next round,” he added.

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