Qhogi warns CAF could take charge of league

**Nsingizini Hotspurs Coach Warns of Potential CAF Intervention in Domestic League**

Nsingizini Hotspurs head coach Mandla Qhogi has cautioned that Eswatini’s domestic football league could face intervention from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) if local scheduling is not properly aligned with continental competition requirements.

Qhogi’s comments followed Nsingizini Hotspurs’ 0-1 defeat to Young Buffaloes in the 8BET Trade Fair Cup quarterfinals at the Mavuso Sports Centre on Wednesday. The loss occurred just days before the club is scheduled to travel to Harare, Zimbabwe, for a CAF Champions League first-leg match against Scottland FC this Sunday.

Addressing the impact of the domestic schedule on the club’s continental preparations, Qhogi argued that the timing of local tournaments creates unnecessary strain.

“You cannot have a CAF competition playing and you want to play a domestic tournament,” Qhogi said. He warned that failure to adhere to CAF’s structural expectations could lead to severe repercussions for the national league. “Should we be a team that does not conform, the league could be in a serious problem, because CAF can take this seriously and the league could be disbanded and [CAF could] take charge of the league.”

CAF’s regulatory framework prioritizes its own club competitions, often rejecting requests from member associations to postpone matches due to domestic or regional scheduling conflicts. Under CAF’s Club Licensing Regulations, national associations are mandated to maintain a structured and independently managed top-tier league. Persistent mismanagement of the football calendar, which may hinder the completion of domestic seasons within the continental window, can jeopardize a nation’s standing and the eligibility of its clubs.

Despite the recent cup exit, Qhogi stated that the result would not derail the club’s broader ambitions. He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the team’s new signings and emphasized that the club remains focused on its growth.

“We are a team that is still improving and I believe we have been doing very well,” Qhogi said. “We are a big club. This club is still going to do very well, no matter the haters.”

Article and image source: eswatiniobserver.com