Nsingizini hold Simba SC, crashes out
By Chris Dlamini
It was always a big and difficult task for Nsingizini Hotspurs.
The Eswatini debutants in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2025/26 blew it about a week ago when they lost 3-0 at home in the first leg.
This is what Nsingizini had to overturn in Tanzania against a side as fierce as Simba SC – last season’s TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup runner-up and once top 20-ranked in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) club rankings.
The second leg ended goalless, but that only meant a 3-0 aggregate win for Simba SC, and advancement to the group stage where a slightly over E12 million cash boost is guaranteed.
The visiting side, Insingizi Yezulu (Nsingizini) in this instance, put up a brave performance in front of a massive 60 000 crowd at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, but they needed to win 3-0 to force the match into the dreaded penalty shootout on a 3-3 aggregate score.
If not, a 4-0 win would have simply seen them in the group stage, and around E12 million richer. A 4-0 win would result in a 4-3 aggregate win for Insingizi.
However, it was not to be as Simba SC did the job in the first leg, and had no pressure in front of their home crowd with a 3-0 cushion.
Nsingizini had reached the second preliminary round after edging Zimbabwe’s Simba Bhora in the first preliminary stage.
The green and white outfit will now shift focus to their MTN Premier League title defence as they seek a consecutive Champions League experience.
In their domestic return, Tabankulu Celtics had initially been set to play them on November 12 at Tabankulu Stadium. However, the Premier League of Eswatini will give direction on their return to action in the league.
Meanwhile, Nsingizini played in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup last season after Green Mamba opted not to participate. However, they were walloped by South Africa’s (SA) Betway Premiership side Stellenbosch with an 8-0 aggregate score.
The latest Champions League results show a growing and progressive team.
