Mapeza blocks out CAF thoughts as Scottland go 10 clear
Scottland FC coach Norman Mapeza says he will not let their upcoming 2026/27 CAF Champions League campaign distract them from the 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title run-in.
Scottland FC moved 10 points clear at the top of the table on Friday, after a 2-0 win over TelOne FC at Rufaro Stadium. The victory stretched Mabvira-vira’s unbeaten run to nine matches. It was sealed by a three-minute brace from former Kaizer Chiefs talisman Khama Billiat.
Even more impressive, the 2025 Championship winners have not conceded a goal during that run — a serious statement of intent in their bid for back-to-back titles.
WHAT NORMAN MAPEZA SAID
With 12 games left in the season, Scottland look well placed for another successful campaign. The Harare side now sit on 49 points, 10 ahead of second-placed Hardrock FC. Hardrock will have a chance to close the gap when they host Herentals College FC at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
Scottland FC ahead of a match at Rufaro stadium
However, Mapeza is already warming up to the stiff competition his team will face when they make their debut in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League. But he doesn’t want to be distracted.
“That’s a whole different ball game. Look at the quality Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia have. It shows you how high the competition is at that level. So I don’t want to put myself under pressure by comparing what’s happening here to what will happen there,” Mapeza said.
2026 TOYOTA CUP IN SOUTH AFRICA
Scottland FC are set to meet their first opponents beyond Zimbabwe in the Toyota Cup against Kaizer Chiefs on July 26.
This year, South Africa’s Amakhosi will host the reigning Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions, Scottland FC.
The Toyota Cup is entering its third edition. Amakhosi played Tanzanian giants Young Africans at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein in the competition’s inaugural year.
They then hosted former African champions Asante Kotoko at Moses Mabhida Stadium in 2025. This time the match will be played at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on July 26.
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