Africa-Press – Eswatini. It was a case of so near yet so far for the senior national football side, Sihlangu, in the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup.
After a spirited display in the 2-1 win over Namibia last Saturday; Dominic Kunene’s men needed to beat hosts South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the Group A decider here at Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban. The neighbours turned the game on its head in the last 14 minutes to end the Eswatini nation’s hopes of a spot in the semi-finals. Despite a gallant performance against the illustrious opponents, Eswatini with a single win and two defeats is already out of the tournament after finishing third in the group behind Botswana, who ended on four points. The latter played to a goalless draw with Namibia and also got eliminated. Sihlangu, who drew first blood through the enterprising Bongwa Matsebula eight minutes into the second half, needed to top the group to make the cut. In this year’s tournament, there are three groups and only the winners, alongside the best runners-up of all the groupings qualify for the semi-finals.
Best
Even if Sihlangu managed a draw against Bafana Bafana, they were already out of the race for the best runners-up as Zambia finished second in Group B, with six points. Sihlangu ended the goalless first half the stronger of the two sides but they were let down by finishing just before the break, when Matsebula sent a wild shot over the top, after goalkeeper Jethren Barr failed to clear a corner. Sihlangu carried that momentum into the second half and took the lead in the 51st minute, when the Young Buffaloes star rifled one into the roof of the net after Bafana failed to clear their lines in the box.
Changes
The hosts made key changes after the hour mark, introducing the two-goal hero Tshegofatso Mabasa, among others, to suck the energy out of Sihlangu. The changes paid off, as Mabasa restored parity with a powerful strike from distance 14 minutes from time. Bafana completed the turnaround with two minutes to go, as Mabasa completed his brace by turning home a low pass from Rayners, which sealed top spot in Group A and a place in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, after last night’s action, Matsebula is among the leading goalscorers with two goals.
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