MBABANE – Nsingizini Hotspurs Head Coach Mandla Qhogi has warned Scottland FC ahead of Saturday’s CAF Champions League preliminary round return match at Somhlolo National Stadium.
The Eswatini champions return home trailing 1-0 following a narrow defeat to the Zimbabwean titleholders at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. Hotspurs faced immediate pressure after defender Kingsley Kwakyi was shown a straight red card in the third minute for a challenge on Moses Shidolo. Despite playing virtually the entire match with 10 men, Hotspurs remained organised until second-half substitute Neville Tengeg broke the deadlock in the 66th minute.
Qhogi questioned the referee’s decision to send Kwakyi off so early, suggesting a yellow card would have been sufficient. However, he remains confident his side can overturn the deficit on home soil with 11 players on the pitch.
“When they come home, finding 11 players, they’ll find a different story,” said Qhogi. “I’ll ask them to call Simba Bhora and ask for a plan, because we’re not going to be an easy game. We stand a chance. The game is open; we can still score more goals.”
Simba Bhora, who are also from Zimbabwe and Nsingizini Hotspurs met in the preliminary round of the 2025–26 CAF Champions League in September last year. Simba Bhora secured a 1–0 victory in the home leg played in Botswana to take a single-goal advantage into the return match. Nsingizini Hotspurs won the second leg 1–0 to tie the aggregate score at 1–1. The match went to a penalty shootout, where Nsingizini won 4–2 to advance.
Despite holding the lead, Scottland Coach Norman Mapeza remains cautious, warning that the job is only half done. Mapeza admitted his team failed to capitalise fully on their numerical advantage, particularly during a sluggish first-half performance.
“In the second half, we made changes and started to play. But usually, playing against a 10-man team is very difficult because those guys will fight for their lives,” Mapeza noted. “I’m happy, but I think we could have done better. We had opportunities to make it 2-0 or 3-0. It’s a win, but thorough planning is required before heading to Eswatini.”
Nsingizini must win by at least two clear goals to secure progression without the tie going to extra time. Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm on Saturday, September 12.
By Sanele Jele and Machawe Fakudze
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