Scottland FC coach Norman Mapeza has sought to provide a fresh explanation for Knowledge Musona’s omission from Sunday’s CAF Champions League clash against Nsingizini Hotspurs, putting a slight hamstring injury at the centre of the decision after the veteran forward’s controversial reaction to his substitution against FC Platinum.
Musona was left out of Scottland’s matchday squad for their historic CAF Champions League debut, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the Harare side at the National Sports Stadium.
His omission came just days after he attracted attention during Wednesday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter against FC Platinum at Rufaro Stadium.
Musona started the match but was withdrawn in the 53rd minute by Mapeza.
Instead of taking his place on the bench, the former Kaizer Chiefs forward walked straight into the dressing room, in a reaction that reportedly surprised members of the Scottland technical team.
He later returned wearing a tracksuit and took a seat behind Mapeza and his coaching staff.
The incident had raised questions over whether his reaction to the substitution had any bearing on his subsequent omission from the CAF Champions League squad.
However, speaking after Sunday’s match, Mapeza shifted the focus to Musona’s physical condition, revealing that the 36-year-old was already carrying a slight hamstring injury when he featured against FC Platinum.
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“He played with slight hamstring injury against FC Platinum on Wednesday. We took him out but he couldn’t take it because it was still 0-0,” Mapeza said.
“He wanted to give more in terms of results on that day. Then again, he was thinking about this game today (on Sunday).”
According to Mapeza, Musona had wanted to remain on the pitch despite the injury because Scottland were still searching for a result against FC Platinum.
The explanation places the forward’s absence from Sunday’s squad primarily in the context of injury management, rather than disciplinary or technical considerations arising from the substitution incident.
It also provides a different emphasis to the controversy that had surrounded Musona in the aftermath of the FC Platinum match.
There has been no public confirmation from Scottland that Musona was dropped as punishment for his reaction to being substituted, while Mapeza’s latest comments do not directly address whether the incident influenced the decision.
Instead, the coach has pointed to the hamstring problem as the reason for keeping the veteran forward out of a physically demanding continental fixture.
Scottland went on to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over Nsingizini Hotspurs, giving them a slender advantage ahead of the second leg.
The result means Scottland will carry the lead into the return fixture as they continue their maiden CAF Champions League campaign.
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