We’ve put ourselves here, we must get ourselves out – ‘Sly’

M– The National team Sihlangu have all the reasons to heighten their preparations for the TOTALEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 Qualifiers.

This is after the first game date and venue has been confirmed. The Dominic Kunene-led charges will play their first AFCON 2023 game against Togo. The game will be played in Togo at de Kegue Stadium on June 3, kick-off time is 6pm and while the return match will be played on March 20, 2023 at a venue yet to be announced, possibly Mbombela Stadium in

He assured Leopard that they would come hard on them as they would be looking for one result - a win.

“The other results won’t be good enough for us because we don’t know where it would take us, so the most important thing for us is to go and fight hard for the three points,” he said.

He said they analysed the games where they lost points including the matches against Malanti Chiefs, Young Buffaloes and Royal Leopard so at this stage of the season they could not afford to drop points. “At this point if you slip up you are dead,” he said.

He also said he was banking his hopes on the experienced players in his team, to get the maximum points against the defending champions. He further said it was his job to empower his players psychologically after drawing 3-3 with Malanti he was certain that his boys were now ready for tomorrow’s game. On the other hand, Ingwe Mabalabala (Leopard) award-winning gaffer Edwin Matsebula said preparations for the game against Inkunz’emnyama were going accordingly although they were not yet done.

He said they had it on their minds that the game against the Black Bull would not be an easy one because of the competition on the top the table.

“It is very hard at the top as you slip once you are out so, we need to be in our best mental state going to the game,” Matsabula said. The former Vovovo coach said it was not an advantage that they managed a 2-0 first round win over the black and white ensemble, that is yet to beat Leopard in a league match in four years now.

“The momentum Highlanders is at is different to ours, the only advantage that we have is that we were able to rejuvenate the players when they were playing on Wednesday,” he said.

The game is hosted by

Highlanders.