MISERY FOR SA ’DOWNS AHEAD OF ‘BIRDS’ CAF CLASH

MBABANE – In what may come as a psychological boost, Mbabane Swallows’ opponents, Mamelodi Sundowns, are going through  a rough patch.

The two sides will meet in  two-legged  Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League second preliminary round. The ‘Birds’ will face the ‘Bafana Ba Style’, as Sundowns are affectionately known, on September 14, in the second preliminary round of the TotalEnergies-sponsored tournament. The match is set to take place at Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium, with kick off scheduled for 8pm. This encounter comes when  Sundowns have suffered back-to-back defeats in the MTN 8 Wafa Wafa Cup.

Defeated

They were narrowly defeated by Stellenbosch in the first leg of the MTN-sponsored top-eight tournament, losing 1-0 at their home ground, courtesy of a penalty converted by Fawaaz Basadien. This match took place on August 24. The second leg, held just four days later, saw Steve Barker’s charges record a 1-0 win, with Lehlohonolo Mojela scoring the decisive goal via a tap-in, following an Andre De Jong cross. This match, played at Moses Mabhida Stadium, resulted in Sundowns crashing out of the major knockout tournament with a 2-0 aggregate loss. 
In contrast, Swallows secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over newly-promoted Sisonke in the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup tournament.

The crucial goal came from an own goal by Mlandvo Tsabedze, which ultimately salvaged the day for Swallows. Under the guidance of Caleb Ngwenya, the team will advance to the quarter-finals of the knockout tournament, where they were finalists last year, having suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat to Green Mamba in the final.

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