By Sibusiso Masilela
Sihlangu Semnikati’s quest to qualify for the 2024 COSAFA has been dealt a huge blow.
The senior national team will be without the services of captain Kwakhe Tfwala during the group A decider against Bafana Bafana at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday.
The want-away Mbabane Swallows versatile vice-captain will be serving a one-match suspension after accumulating two yellow cards during the previous two matches against Botswana and Mozambique.
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Tfwala will be replaced by vice captain and Green Mamba left-back Mxolisi Manana who will lead the nation’s pride in the crunch clash.
The ex-young Buffaloes player recently replaced Sifiso Matse as the nation’s pride captain.
Sihlangu interim coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane confirmed the news when reached for comment.
“We will be without the services of Kwakhe during the match against South Africa due to suspension.We have capable players in the squad who will fill his void and we are confident that the team will come to the party on the day.
We have done all the necessary preparations for the match, and we are looking forward to this tough assignment,” he said.
The senior national side needs a win to book a place in the last four for the annual regional showpiece which is currently taking place in Gqeberha.
Ntibane recently replaced Dominic Kunene as the Sihlangu head coach after serving briefly as an assistant for Kunene together with Green Mamba coach Ernest Mavuso.
Mavuso was relieved from his duties together with Kunene after the recent back-to-back loses in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Angola and Mauritius.
