Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
SCOTTLAND coach Norman Mapeza looked strong, composed and sure of himself during a press conference that was held in Luanda yesterday.
The veteran gaffer kept on emphasising the need for his charges to be mentally strong when they take on 20-time Angolan champions Petro Atletico de Luanda in a TotalEnergies CAF Champions League second-round, second-leg tie at the Estadio 11 de Novembro today.
Scottland carry a 2-0 lead and will need to avoid losing by a two-goal margin for them to progress to the group stage.
Kick-off is 4:30PM.
Although Petro Atletico are usually difficult to play at home and are ranked among some of the top clubs on the continent, Scottland coach Mapeza is confident his boys can finish the job only if they do the right things at the right time.
Mapeza is aware Petro Atletico will be backed by a vociferous crowd that is expected to pack the 48 500 seater Estádio 11 de Novembro.
He is also alive to the fact that the 20-time Angolan giants will come out guns blazing.
But Mapeza, who has guided FC Platinum into the group stage before, looks like a coach who has done his homework.
“The good thing is we travelled well from Harare to Luanda.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) we had a training session around 11:30AM; today (yesterday) we are going to feel the pitch at the stadium where we are going to play Petro Luanda.
“We don’t have any injury worries, but you never know what might happen between now and tomorrow (today) morning, but as of now we have a clean bill,” said Mapeza.
Scottland made the headlines on the continent when they beat Petro Atletico 2-0 at the National Sports, with former national team players Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona on the score-sheet.
CAF Online named the Zimbabwean champions among the giant killers, who also included Libya’s Swehly, who stunned Esperance 1-0, while Nigeria’s Rangers International defeated Algeria’s MC Alger 2-0.
“Zimbabwe’s Scottland FC overcame Angolan giants Petro Atletico by the same scoreline (2-0) in results that have transformed the race for places in the group stage.
“While Tanzania’s Young Africans, Morocco’s RS Berkane and Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman established commanding advantages, several other heavyweight clubs face difficult assignments when the return fixtures take place,” wrote CAF Online.
One of the heavyweights facing an early exit are Petro Atletico.
They will have to score three without reply when they tackle Zimbabwean champions Scottland.
But in Scottland they face a disciplined side defensively.
Mabviravira are one of the few clubs yet to concede in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League.
Should they keep a fourth consecutive clean sheet, then Scottland will write another piece of history.
Their coach feels the psychological aspect of the game will be key.
“At the end of the day, we carry a 2-0 win; it’s much up to us; it’s about the mental aspect of the game.
“Definitely they will come at us; we have had about the crowd, and it’s not going to be easy, but we are ready.
“Some of our guys have played in front of big crowds before, and I don’t think it’s going to be a challenge.
“We need to be calm and do the right things, whether we are going to defend or attack. We need to be very organized, we need to be very solid and know exactly why we are here.
“If we do that then we will not have any challenge,” said Mapeza.
When Scottland arrived in Angola, they were greeted with news that Petro Atletico had replaced coach Joao Pedro Sousa with the highly rated Alexandre Santos.
Santos enjoyed a hugely successful spell with Petro Atletico between 2021 and 2024, winning three league titles, three Angolan Cups and one Super Cup while guiding the club to the CAF Champions League semis.
“It’s now a different ball game; we are playing a quality side.
“They have a good coach now, and all over the world, when a new coach comes in, players want to fight for him.
“(But) we go there with a positive mind; it’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be war.
“With that lead we are carrying, I think if we put everything together we will go through,” said Mapeza.
Once again, Mapeza will bank on the duo of Musona and Billiat, who both scored in the first leg.
Billiat’s experience in continental football, having won the CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns before, will come in handy, while Musona has always been a big game player.
Former Dynamos skipper Emmanuel Jalai is also used to playing in front of big crowds.
Scottland owner Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya has also chartered a plane that will carry fans to Luanda today.
“It’s confirmed, there is a chartered plane carrying fans to Luanda,” said Sakupwanya.
