Africa-Press – Eswatini. IN just a month’s time, Sihlangu will begin their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign away to Togo.
Sihlangu are in group B with the Togolese alongside Burkina Faso and Cape Verde.
The senior football national team is searching for its first ever qualification to the biggest football stage in the continent despite winning bronze medals in 2016 and 2021 in the regional COSAFA Cup.
All the clubs in Sihlangu’s group are familiar, having played them previously. On June 8, 2008, Sihlangu under Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba achieved their first win in a World Cup qualifier since 1992, beating 2006 World Cup finalists Togo 2–1 at the Somhlolo National Stadium. Siza ‘King Pele’ Dlamini and Coleen Salelwako were on target for the nation’s pride.
The team’s best recent performance in the AFCON qualifying campaign came in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification where they finished second in Group L above Guinea and Malawi under the tutelage of now Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga.
Qualify
Prior to the 2013 AFCON finals hosted in neighbouring South Africa, Sihlangu played a friendly match with the ‘Stallions’ of Burkina Faso at the Mbombela Stadium and were previously in the same qualifying group with vastly improved Cape Verde.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches will decide the participating teams of the 2023 AFCON finals, the 34th edition of the international men’s football championship of Africa.
A total of 24 teams will qualify to play in the final tournament, including Ivory Coast, who qualifies automatically as hosts. For the first time, the AFCON finals will be staged between June and July instead of the usual January- February schedule.
Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Communications Officer Sibongiseni Zondi said renovations on the football side in terms of structure was now complete at the Somhlolo National Stadium.
“We currently waiting for FIFA and CAF to complete their inspection but more information can be sourced from EFA who have the communication line with these entities,” Zondi said.
Effectively this means that Somhlolo will be ready for the first home game against Burkina Faso on June 14.
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