Times Of Swaziland: AFCON DREAM HANGS BY THREAD!

AFCON DREAM HANGS BY THREAD!
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Sanele Jele on 29/03/2023 08:37:00


MBOMBELA – It is a major setback.
After what seemed like a promising second-half, misfiring Sihlangu went down 1-0
to Cape Verde, courtesy of Ryan Mendes’ 56th minute strike. With two games to
spare, the defeat dented Dominic Kunene’s charges’ chances of qualifying for
next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as runners-up in the group. With two
points, they are mathematically in it but will need to finish ahead of
yesterday’s opponents, who are already on seven points.  Eswatini face
table-proppers Togo and unbeaten Burkina Faso in their last two games. These two
teams who are one and nine points, respectively, were due to face-off late last
night. The top two in each group qualify for the AFCON Finals, to be held in
Ivory Coast,where 24 teams will compete for the championship. The dream should
have been kept alive if Eswatini’s marksman Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa
didn’t see his penalty saved, with just 10 minutes to spare.
This is after the Ivanildo Fernandes handled the ball inside the danger zone.
brilliant
Ndzinisa stepped up to level matters for the home side, but goalkeeper Vozinha
made a brilliant save. The nation’s pride could have restored parity in the
72nd  minute but Sifiso Matse missed from close range, when the easiest thing to
do was to tap in with the goalkeeper way out of his line. The hosts were fairly
the better side, after the visitors scored the winner 11 minutes into the
second-half, All thanks to Ryan Mendes,who plies his trade in Al-Nasr from the
United Emirates. This is after he benefitted from a loose ball inside the danger
zone, which he hurled past Ncamiso ‘Mbhonyo’ Dlamini to provoke scenes of
celebration from the handful of away fans. In the first-half, which ended
goalless, no side created clear cut chances, except for a powerful shot by
Philani Mkhontfo but the opposition keeper pulled a great save just three
minutes before halftime. Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini also had an attempt early
in the first-half but the man of the match goalkeeper made a brilliant save from
a volley inside the box.