LEOPARD’S OPPONENTS ZESCO UTD RANKED 46TH IN AFRICA

MBABANE – On paper, Eswatini CAF envoys opponents Zesco United and Red Arrows look strong.

If footballdatabase.com rankings are anything to go by, then Royal Leopard and Young Buffaloes should be worried. Leopard and Buffaloes will play United and Arrows respectively. Leopard will be competing in the CAF Champions League, while the army side will be in the CAF Confederation Cup. According to the tentative date, the first and second leg in both competitions will be played on September 11 and 17. According to the rankings which were released last Sunday, The Zambian side are recognised as one of the best in the world, while both local clubs are not listed in the rankings. Zesco is ranked 46 in Africa and 610 in the world while Arrows are perched at 224 in Africa and their world ranking stands at 1472. Reached for comment, Leopard Coach Edwin Matsebula said despite Zesco being highly ranked they are not scared.

“We are aware that they are one of the big teams in Zambia and Africa. The rankings are proving that they are recognised in the world but in football anything is possible. The rankings will not mean anything inside the field of play as it will be 11 against 11,” Matsebula said. Asked about their ambitions in the CAF competition, he said; “Look, it’s every coach’s dream to reach in the group stages in the Champions League. That is where you tend to gain more experience and off course, you tend to get rewarded monetary wise.” Meanwhile, Buffaloes coach Sabelo Mnisi said they were not bothered by the rankings. “Instead the rankings could motivate us to prove a point that we can beat a team that is recognised. Our mandate is to reach the group stages, we know it won’t be easy but we will take one game at a time,” he said. Noteworthy is that Mbabane Swallows are the only Eswatini team ranked in these rankings. The ‘Birds’ are ranked 427 in Africa and 2186 in the world.

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