SIHLANGU FACE BIG GUNS IN AFCON 2019

 MBABANE – Sihlangu have not just been thrown into the deep end in the AFCON 2019 Qualifiers, but will have to learn to swim upstream in Group J against seven-time winners Egypt.

The draw conducted in Libreville, Gabon, last night saw the coach-less national outfit drawn against North Africa’s heavyweaights, Egypt and Tunisia, as well unpredictable Niger. Tunisia were winners in 2004. However, Niger are one of the weakest sides in West Africa.
The fixture against Egypt will be a sad reminder of the 10-0 defeat suffered in March 2013.

The road to the 2019 finals in Cameroon begins with the preliminary round in March but Sihlangu, currently ranked 99th, are celebrating a rare seeding following a resurgence on the FIFA charts. They will start their qualifying matches in the group stages in June.

The teams engaged in the qualifiers of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations were seeded into five levels. Teams in the first four levels avoided the preliminary round.  Swaziland were in level IV alongside Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Mauritania, Namibia, Rwanda and Seychelles. Level V sides were Comoros, Djibouti, Madagascar, Mauritius, Sao Tome E Principe and South Sudan. They will play in the first hurdle, with only three progressing to the group stages. 

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