KHANYAKWEZWE, KWAKHE OUT OF CAPE VERDE GAME

MBABANE – National team Sihlangu head coach Dominic Kunene has left out goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala and midfielder Kwakhe Tfwala out of the squad to face Cape Verde on Friday.

The 20-member squad final list was announced a few minutes before Sihlangu bid farewell to Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane and Chief Executive Officer Frederick Mngomezulu, at the Lobamba Technical Centre yesterday. The Comfort Shongwe-led delegation will honour the back-to-back TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) away leg, with the second leg game billed for Mbombela Stadium in South Africa. The two players were joined by skipper and ZESCO United right back Lindo Mkhonta in the list of those who were left behind.

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The in-form defender, who has displayed stellar performance for Zega Mambo as ZESCO is known in football circles, since making his debut against the Green Eagles early this year, was left out due to the fact that he was red carded in the game against Burkina Faso at Mbombela Stadium. Meanwhile, the Mbabane Swallows exciting midfielder is nabbed by the yellow card rule. Kunene, who did not explained why the Mbabane Highlanders goal custodian was left out, thanked the president for his time, and mentioned that the players were going to be motivated going into the game. “We would first like to thank EFA for having provided the players with all the needs while in camp. “We are well prepared for the game and the players have been showing great spirit in the training sessions we have been having since the first day of our camp. We will fight for the nation,” Kunene briefly said.

Meanwhile, Mkhonta said the boys were looking forward to the back-to-back games against the Blue Sharks, as they knew the importance of match. “We ask for prayers from emaSwati for this long journey to Cape Verde. We have prepared for the game and as long as the nation is behind the team we will conquer,” he said. The team travelled yesterday afternoon by road to South Africa, Johannesburg to connect with a flight to Cape Verde, for their third group stage game. Notable absentees from the squad include international player in All Stars Justice ‘Figa’ Figuareido and MTN Premier League current top goalscorer in Mbabane Swallows Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst. The latter has scored 17 goals in 17 MTN Premier League games he has played in the season.

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