By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – Mbabane Swallows and Nsingizini Hotspurs will start their campaign in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) interclub competitions on the weekend of August 16 to 18, 2024.
Both clubs are expected to start in the preliminary round. Mbabane Swallows will be playing in the CAF Champions League after winning the MTN Premier League while Nsingizini Hotspurs will debut in the CAF Confederations Cup after finishing third with second place Green Mamba withdrawing form the tournament.
“The 2024/ 2025 CAF Interclub season will kick-off with the Preliminary Round scheduled between August 16 -18, 2024. The Group Stages are scheduled between October – December 2024,” reads a statement from CAF.
Eswatini is still not under the 12 highest ranked countries by CAF. The 12 highest ranked countries are eligible to enter two clubs in both the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League as well as the CAF Confederation Cup.
The 12 highest ranked national associations are Algeria, Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, DR Congo, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia and Tanzania.
CAF kicked-off the registration period for Member Associations to register their qualified Clubs on the CAF Competitions Management System (CMS).
Eswatini Football Association (EFA) is expected to submit Mbabane Swallows for the CAF Champions League and Nsingizini Hotspurs for the CAF Confederation Cup.
Registration window periods for the participating clubs:
01 July – 20 July: Players participating in the Preliminary Round
21 July – 31 August: Players participating in the Second Preliminary Round
01 – 30 September: Players participating in the Group Stages
01 – 31 January 2025: Maximum of seven (7) additional players, including four (4) replacements.
