SIHLANGU SET UP SENEGAL SEMI

MBABANE – The national team, Sihlangu, is through to the semi-finals of the 2021 COSAFA Cup where they will face Senegal tomorrow.

The 1-all draw yesterday in the last match of Group A was enough for the Dominic Kunene-led side to reach the semi-finals for the fifth time in the history of the COSAFA Cup as they did in 1999, 2002, 2003 and in 2016. They finished second in group A seven points behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana who finished top of the group with 10 points after their goalless draw against Zambia, who were among the favourites to reach the semi-finals, but their chances were blown off when they lost 0-1 to Sihlangu on Saturday. Senegal, on the other hand, finished top of Group B while Namibia, who will face Bafana Bafana in the other semi-final, finished second despite losing 0-1 to Mozambique on a head-to-head as both countries finished with seven points and same goal difference.

Sihlangu will now have a long stay in the tournament as they play the semi-final tomorrow at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, kick-off will be at 5pm while the other semi-final between South Africa and Mozambique will kick-off at 2pm. The third place play off match will be played on Sunday, same day with the final. Sihlangu will be playing Senegal for the the third time and it will be the second time this year having played 1-all in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification Group I second-leg match at the Stade Lat-Dior in Thiès Stadiu, Senegal on March 30, 2021.

Beat

Senegal beat Sihlangu 4-1 in the first-leg of the qualifiers played at Somhlolo National Stadium in Novermber 19, 2020. Sihlangu had an advantage over Botswana yesterday as they had two days to rest ahead of the clash while the latter was in action on Tuesday afternoon where they lost 1-2 to Zambia. Dominic Kunene made three changes from the squad that won against Zambia on Saturday. He brought in Felix Badenhorst, Sifiso Matse and Justice Figuareido for the suspended duo of Fanelo ‘Order’ Mamba, Mzwandile Mabelesa and Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze who was on the bench. Sihlangu were first to take the lead in the 20th minute through Mbabane Highlanders forward Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa. The game went to the break with Sihlangu enjoying the 1-0 win and Botswana equalised five minutes after the hour mark and the game went on until the referee blew the final whistle that saw Sihlangu enter the semi-finals.

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