By Chris Dlamini
Eswatini’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League envoys, Mbabane Swallows may have to forget about Mbombela Stadium.
The FIFA World Cup 2010 arena is the nearest to Eswatini to host South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
The two sides face off in the second preliminary round after Swallows outfoxed Mozambique’s Club Ferroviaro da Beira with a 1-0 aggregate win.
Swallows have no hosting venue at home due to the ban of Somhlolo National Stadium and Mavuso Sports Centre by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
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They host Sundowns on September 14, according to CAF fixtures at 5 pm and again on September 21 in the away second leg.
It turns out Mbombela has already been booked by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) for the senior national team Sihlangu Semnikati’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 Qualifiers on September 10. On September 14, a rugby match between the Springboks and All Blacks.
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This essentially shuts down the venue for Swallows, who most emaSwati hope something can still be done to bring Sundowns to Somhlolo National Stadium.
“We’re still working on it as management,” responded Swallows Public Relations Officer (PRO) Knowledge Ngwenya.
There is currently no hint where Swallows will host, but there have been suggestions by some supporters to look at Mozambique’s Lalgy Arena Stadium again.
This is where Swallows played a goalless draw with Club Ferroviaro to qualify on the strength of the first leg 1-0 win in Pretoria, South Africa inside the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium.
