By Chris Dlamini
Mozambique………(0) 0,
Eswatini……………..(0) 0,
MBABANE – Is Eswatini’s senior national team Sihlangu Semnikati missing fierce forward Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa?
This is the question many emaSwati are asking themselves after watching the youthful and in-experienced Sihlangu Semnikati match the better-ranked Mozambique pound for pound on Saturday.
This was during the ongoing COSAFA Cup 2024 in Gqeberha, Port Elizabeth, in South Africa. COSAFA stands for Council of Southern Africa Football Associations.
At least 12 countries are involved in this year’s regional showpiece that has Kenya as the guest nation. The youthful Eswatini team was again impressive under caretaker coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane against Mozambique’s Mambas, as the latter’s national team is fondly known.
However, just like in the opening group A match against equally youthful Botswana’s Zebras on Wednesday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, they drew blanks at the Wolfson Stadium in the mid-day clash.
Sihlangu created chances but left a lot to be desired in front goal. It was a goalless game in the end as those chances were all in vain. There was a point where Sihlangu also looked quite lost as Mozambique launched attack after attack, but goalkeeper Xolani Gama was exceptional.
He produced some brilliant saves to ensure Sihlangu walked off the pitch with another point after one from the Botswana match. Sihlangu lacked a natural finisher up front. It is worth mentioning that just on Thursday, the country witnessed Green Mamba’s fierce forward and COSAFA Cup all-time second joint top goal scorer Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa officially handed the Top Goalscorer Award with 20 goals.
He was left out of the COSAFA Cup squad in preference of the youth in particular pacey Nsingizini Hotspurs forward Sambulo ‘Masoso’ Simelane who did not exert himself in the match and looked like a fish out of water.
In this match, Ntibane started Leon Manyisa in the midfield ahead of the best-performing Junior Magagula in the opening group match against Botswana, which also ended without goals but a lot of missed chances.
He now has the host nation’s Bafana Bafana to beat on Tuesday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at 3 pm. Sihlangu remains with a chance to advance to the top of the group, but only if they can beat coach Helman Mkhalele’s youthful but gifted stars with a good score considering they have not scored in two games.
Bafana Bafana played a 1-all draw with Mozambique but fired blanks against Botswana later on Saturday. This leaves every team with two points. The team to top the group will advance to the semis while the best runners-up in the three groups will also join the three clubs in the semis.
Saturday’s results leave Eswatini bottom of the group while Bafana Bafana is second.
