Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SCOTTLAND will launch their maiden CAF Champions League campaign at the National Sports Stadium after receiving approval to move next month’s first leg against Nsingizini Hotspurs from Botswana to Harare.
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions had earmarked the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown while the National Sports Stadium remained off CAF’s approved venues list, but the Harare venue’s recent Category 3 approval opened the way for the switch.
“For us, this is very important because we wanted to play at home, and now we have the opportunity to host Nsingizini at the National Sports Stadium,” said Scottland secretary-general Fortune Bgwoni.
“This is our first CAF Champions League campaign, so we want to make the most of our home advantage.”
The National Sports Stadium had been barred from hosting international football since 2021 because of infrastructure deficiencies, forcing local clubs and national teams to stage matches in neighbouring countries.
Scottland qualified for the Champions League after winning the 2025 PSL title in their debut top-flight season.
They have already faced Nsingizini in a pre-season friendly, but Bgwoni expects a different contest when the sides meet in the preliminary round.
“We know Nsingizini very well, and we respect them, but this is now a competitive CAF Champions League match and the circumstances are different,” he said.
“We want to get a positive result at home before we travel to Eswatini for the second leg.”
The first leg is scheduled for September 4-6, with the return fixture in Eswatini the following weekend.
Scottland are also developing an artificial training pitch at their High Performance Centre in Ruwa to prepare for the away leg, with Nsingizini using a similar surface at home.
