By Tapiwa Chawagarira
HARARE — The stage is set for a fascinating quarter-final round of the inaugural Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, with eight teams remaining in the race for the prestigious silverware and a place in the semi-finals.
The quarter-final stage is scheduled for 2–4 October 2026, with the semi-finals scheduled for December and the final set for 22 December 2026.
The quarter-final draw has produced four intriguing encounters, pitting Premier Soccer League heavyweights against ambitious challengers as the competition enters its decisive phase.
According to the released draw, FC Hunters will face CAPS United, while Scottland FC will take on Bulawayo Chiefs. In the other two quarter-finals, Hardrock FC will meet Herentals FC, and Blanket Mine FC will face FC Platinum.
The winner between Hardrock FC and Herentals College will meet the winner of Scottland FC vs Bulawayo Chiefs.
The official tournament bracket confirms that the eight clubs emerged from an entertaining Round of 16, which produced several notable results and reinforced the unpredictable nature of knockout football.
FC Hunters booked their quarter-final place with a 2-0 victory over Hwange FC, while CAPS United were equally convincing, defeating Manica Diamonds 2-0 at Rufaro Stadium. Davison Marowa opened the scoring for the Green Machine before substitute Junior Bunjira added the second goal.
The Hunters-CAPS United encounter, therefore, promises to be a battle between two sides that demonstrated composure in the previous round, with both teams knowing that one mistake could end their cup campaign.
Scottland, meanwhile, announced their intentions with a commanding 6-0 demolition of MWOS Under-19, setting up a meeting with Bulawayo Chiefs, who edged past Chili FC 2-0.
The Scottland-Chiefs clash could provide another stern examination of Scottland’s attacking credentials, with the new-look side already having shown its ability to produce big scorelines in the competition.
The Hardrock-Herentals tie is another mouthwatering fixture.
Hardrock marched into the last eight after a 4-1 victory over Jordan, continuing a strong run that has made them one of the sides to watch in the competition. Herentals, on the other hand, eliminated Ngezi Platinum with a 3-1 victory at Baobab Stadium, demonstrating their own pedigree in cup competitions.
Perhaps the most intriguing tie features Blanket Mine and FC Platinum.
Blanket Mine has emerged as the only lower-league side in the quarter-finals, producing one of the tournament’s biggest surprises by eliminating Triangle United on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Gibbo Stadium.
This achievement has added an important underdog storyline to the competition, with the Central Region Soccer League outfit now standing just three victories away from potentially lifting the trophy.
FC Platinum, however, will provide a formidable test after defeating Black Rock 2-0 in the Round of 16.
The quarter-finals underline the depth and competitive appeal of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, which has already delivered goals, penalty shootouts, and major upsets.
With the competition now down to eight teams, the margin for error becomes increasingly small.
For the remaining clubs, the objective is simple: survive the quarter-final hurdle and move within touching distance of becoming the first winners of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
