Leopard, Nsingizini CAF games in Botswana

By Chris Dlamini

EmaSwati can get their passports ready to hit Botswana next month.

This follows the country’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) envoys Nsingizini Hotspurs and Royal Leopard’s away preliminary round fixtures scheduled for Botswana.

Nsingizini will represent Eswatini in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after winning the league last season, while Leopard will be in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup after lifting the Ingwenyama Cup 2024/25.

Both teams will have their first preliminary round away fixtures in Botswana due to their rivals having no qualifying hosting venues. Nsingizini take on Zimbabwe’s Simba Bhora while Leopard will face off with Namibia’s Young Africans. Simba Bhora president Simba Ndoro confirmed the news of hosting away from home due to a CAF stadium ban.

The Shamva side will have the first leg fixture at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown on September 19.

“We have decided to host Nsingizini in Botswana because we felt that it would be a perfect venue which would also suit our budget,” said Ndoro as quoted by Zimbabwe’s Herald Online.

Meanwhile, Leopard’s seasoned Public Relations Officer (PRO) Frank Hurube also affirmed on Monday that their Namibian rivals Young Africans also had no CAF-approved home venue.

“We will be hosted in Botswana by Young Africans. That has been officially confirmed by Young Africans and EmaSwati can get ready for the trip,” he said.

Hurube said Botswana was closer to home and they expected support from Eswatini as this was a road trip.

Leopard also play Young Africans on the same weekend as Nsingizini and CAF interclub competition debutants Simba Bhora, before the return legs at the provisionally approved Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba