‘BIRDS’ VS CONGO’S AC LEOPARDS IN CAF PLAY-OFF

MBABANE – Mbabane Swallows have a mountain to climb in the CAF Confederations Cup play-offs as they face former champions in Congo’s AC Leopards.

The winner between the two sides will then qualify for the group stages where all the teams will be given E3.4 million participating fee. The draw for places in the last 16 of the Total CAF Confederations Cup was held in Cairo, Egypt yesterday morning.

AC Leopard were crowned the champions of the CAF Confederations Cup for the first time in 2012. Last year they were booted out of the CAF Champions League by the eventual winners, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns while in 2015 they were knocked out of the CAF Confederations Cup by South Africa’s Soweto giants Orlando Pirates.

Mbabane Swallows acting Chief Executive Officer Sibusiso Manana said it is a fair draw and they were going to accept any opponent given to them.
“We are happy that the draw was conducted at least three weeks ahead of the first leg and this gives us ample time to prepare for the game. At this stage there is no big or small team. We are equal and we all have our eyes set in the group stages,” he said.

Manana said all the teams that are in the play-offs are there by merit.
“We are going to study them and we hope by the time we play them, we would be ready to conquer. All the games we have played so far had been crucial and we don’t see the difference against ac Leopard,” he said.

Manana said the team will play in Congo for the first time in their history.
Swallows would welcome back their South African midfielder Papy Tshishimba, who missed out in the 3-0 win over Tanzania’s Azam due to bookings.

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