By Sibusiso Masilela
SIHLANGU head coach Dominic Kunene has commended his charges’ performance in the last AFCON 2023 qualifier against Burkina Faso on Friday. Sihlangu, who were winless in the Qualifiers, played to a goalless draw against the ‘Stallions’ at the Marrakesh Stadium in the last Group B encounter in Morocco.
“Congratulations to the boys for the fighting spirit in the match where we showed no respect to the opposition by closing in on them and being first on the ball. Such performances will help to boost the confidence of the players heading to other upcoming major international assignments where we will work extra hard,” he said.
The senior national side finished in the bottom of Group B with three points behind Togo while Cape Verde and Burkina Faso qualified for the finals of the next continental showpiece to be hosted in Ivory Coast. Kunene said they were going to prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to commence in November where they have been drawn against Cameroon, Libya, Angola, Cape Verde and Mauritius in pursuit of a place in the next global showpiece to be jointly hosted by Canada, United States of America and Mexico in four years.
“We will go back to the drawing board to plan for the world cup qualifiers where we want to work hard as a country. It is not going to be an easy run, but we will put up a good fight,” he added. The nation’s pride will take on neighbours South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in an international friendly match slated for October 15 at a venue still to be confirmed by the South African Football Association (SAFA).
