E6.9m dream dies as Leopard crash out

(Somhlolo National Stadium)

R. Leopard ………………… (0)1

Felix 90^th 

AS Maniema Union …… (1)1

Lupini 7^th

(Leopard lose 6-5 on penalties)

LOBAMBA – Heartbreak. Pure heartbreak.

Royal Leopard’s TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup journey came to a cruel end yesterday afternoon, decided by the dreaded penalty shoot-out after they fought tooth and nail to keep their continental dreams alive.

It was agony at Somhlolo National Stadium as Junior Magagula and Mlamuli Makhanya both failed to convert from the spot, handing AS Maniema Union of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a 4–3 win on penalties after a 1–1 draw in regulation time.

Head Coach Edwin Matsebula, confined to the stands, watched in silent despair as Makhanya’s effort was parried away by goalkeeper Ogundare. The image of Matsebula, hands clasped on his head in disbelief, summed up the mood. In the technical area, assistant Coach Mfanzile ‘Fash’ Dlamini and the players looked shattered — faces sunken, bodies heavy with defeat.

And yet, for a fleeting moment, it all seemed possible. The ever-reliable Felix Badenhorst, thrown on as a late substitute, rose to the occasion in the 90^th  minute — his close-range finish sparking frenzy among the home Leopard fans, who erupted in unfiltered joy. The roar that shook the national arena was one of belief, of defiance, of a team refusing to die quietly.

But football, as ever, can be a merciless storyteller. Minutes later, the elation evaporated. The penalties came and so did the heartbreak.

For Maniema Union, the result sealed a historic qualification to the CAF Confederation Cup group stages, a feat worth E6.9 million in prize money. For Leopard, it was the harsh reality of returning home with only the E1.7 million participation fee — funds barely enough to cover the rigours of travel and preparation across the continent.

It was a bitter end to what once looked like a promising campaign. Leopard began their African run in style, obliterating Namibia’s Young African 7–0 in the preliminary round, before holding Maniema to 1–1 draws in both legs — only to fall short on penalties.

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