HARARE — The wait is over. Zimbabwean football returns to its spiritual home.
Scottland FC will face Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs in the CAF Champions League preliminary round, first leg at the National Sports Stadium on September 6, after CAF approved the club’s request to move the match from Francistown, Botswana to Harare.
In a statement released this week, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions confirmed the switch and announced what they called a grand re-opening of the National Sports Stadium for continental football.
“CAF have approved our request to move the CAF Champions League preliminary round, first leg tie against Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini on September 6 to the National Sports Stadium ,” Scottland said.
The club says it is looking forward to a grand re-opening of the venue and they bank on Zimbabweans’ support to make it a memorable occasion.
The approval ends years of Zimbabwean clubs being forced to play “home” Champions League and Confederation Cup matches outside the country due to stadium infrastructure issues. For Scottland, it means their maiden voyage into African football will begin in front of their own fans, on home soil.
The match marks the first time in the club’s history that Scottland will compete in CAF competition. Crowned Castle Lager PSL champions, the Harare side now carry the flag for Zimbabwe in Africa’s premier club tournament.
Going up against Nsingizini Hotspurs, one of Eswatini’s top sides, Scottland will be desperate to take advantage of home support and set the tone for the return leg.
Zimbabwean teams will now enjoy home advantage, underlining how significant CAF’s approval is for the domestic game. The National Sports Stadium, once the fortress of the Warriors, CAPS United and Dynamos, has undergone renovations to meet CAF’s minimum requirements for preliminary round matches.
This is a straight knockout tie. The winner over two legs advances to the next preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, moving one step closer to the group stages and the prize money that comes with it.
For Scottland, it is about more than results. It is about announcing themselves on the continental stage and proving that Zimbabwean clubs can compete and host at the highest level again. Nsingizini Hotspurs will arrive in Harare knowing they face not just 11 players, but a full stadium baying for an upset.
CAF’s decision to grant the venue switch is also a vote of confidence in Zimbabwe’s progress toward meeting continental standards. It opens the door for other local teams in CAF competitions to follow suit and play at home.
With kickoff set for September 6, Scottland have called on Zimbabweans to fill the National Sports Stadium and make it a night to remember.
The team need the 12th man, the supporters.
Tickets, kickoff time, and fan entry details are expected to be announced in the coming days as preparations for the “grand re-opening” intensify.
For the first time in a long time, the roar of the National Sports Stadium will echo across Africa. And for Scottland, the African safari begins at home.
