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MBABANE – Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane is pleased with the senior national team, Sihlangu’s progress.

Speaking to Confederation of African Football (COSAFA) Media yesterday during Sihlangu’s tough quarterfinal clash with the continent’s best footballing nation, Senegal’s Teranga Lions at King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban, South Africa, Simelane did not hide his pleasure. “The game is tough. Since the beginning of the game we were just moving around, just worried and looking at how the boys were doing.

“We looked frightened at first but as the game progressed, we managed to contain them but now the game is balanced; its 50/50 and I can start relaxing going forward,” he responded to the first question about how he felt about the first half in which Senegal dominated and scored to take an early 1-0 lead.

Continuing, Simelane said the team was good and the boys feared no one and were also sticking to the game plan. He said the squad had done well given the 1-0 score line at half-time yet Senegal had won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021 in Cameroon.

“They are not intimidated. They’re a good team and the coach managed to select players who play very well and fighting for each other. You can tell that if the coach can stick with this team, we can surprise one or two big guns,” Simelane said.

Progress

He also said that football was growing well in the country when asked what his thoughts about the journey of the national side in the COSAFA Cup and its progress generally in the game.

He further said the positive performances by Sihlangu were due to good competition in the domestic league as well as the improved performance by clubs in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inter-club competitions.

Meanwhile, Sihlangu ended up losing in the shootout after sudden death with Mzwandile Mabelesa missing his spot kick. It was 1-1 at regular time.