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MBABANE – Sihlangu’s Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) 2023 Qualifiers Group B opponents, Togo boasts 21 internationals.
Portuguese Coach Paulo Duarte named his final 26-man final squad this past Friday, as the Sparrow Hawks of Togo get set to begin their 2023 AFCON qualifying campaign in Group B. Les Éperviers will host Eswatini on June 3 before their away game against Cape Verde.
Leading Al A in scorer Kodjo Laba,who plays for the team from United Arab Emirates (widely known as Dubai) is the star to look out for in the Togo team, as well as center back Dakonam Djene of Getafe in Spain’s La Liga. Fulham former winger, Floyd Ayité (33) is back in the squad after a year-long hiatus from representing Togo. Newly-recruited Ghanaian-born defenders Kennedy Boateng and Emmanuel Hackman also feature to play an important role, after both players started for the team in recent friendlies against Sierra Leone and Benin.
Meanwhile, Sihlangu has two international players in Bonginkhosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini, who plays for G.D. Sagrada Esperanca and Cape Town City All Stars’s Justice Figareido. Despite that it has two internationals, the Dominic Kunene-led charges has two on form sharp-shooters in Sandile ‘Saviola’Gamedze and Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, who have 25 and 23 goals respectively in the league. Efforts to get comments from national team Coach Dominic Kunene were futile as he could not be reached immediately. The last time Sihlangu met Togo, they were victorious winning on 7-2 on aggregate after losing 2-1 at Somhlolo National Stadium and turning the tables away, winning 6-0.
TOGO SQUAD:
GOALKEEPERS: Malcolm Barcola (Lyon, France), Steven Mensah (Hambourg, Germany), Youssouf Morou (Dynamic Togolais Lomé,Togo)
DEFENDERS: Dakonam Djene (Getafe, Spain), Emmanuel Hackman (Gil Vicente, Portugal), Frédéric Ananou (Paderborn, Germany), Kennedy Boateng (Santa Clara, Portugal), Klousseh Agbozo (Abu Salem, Libya), Loïc Bessile (Charleroi, Belgium), Steven Nador (Spal, Italy), Youssifou Atte (Legon Cities, Ghana), Nadir Ayeva(Örebro Syrianska IF,Sweden),
MIDFIELDERS: Alaixys Romao (Ionikos, Greece), Gnama Akate (Al Naft, Iraq), Franco Atchou (Erbil, Iraq), Karim Dermane (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Marouf Tchakei (AS Vita Club, RD Congo), Samsondin Ouro (NS Mura, Slovenia), Samuel Asamoah (U Craoiva, Romania), Floyd Ayité (Valenciennes, France)
ATTACKERS: David Henen (KV Kortrijk, Belgium), Kevin Denkey (Cercle Bruge, Belgium), Kodjo Laba (Al Ain, United Arab Emirates), Euloge Placca (Al Tadamon, Kuwait), Richard Nane (Hafia, Guinea), Serge Nyuiadzi (Ordabasy, Kazakhstan), Thibault Klidje (Girondins de Bordeaux, France).
SIHLANGU SQUAD
GOAL KEEPERS: Sandanezwe Mathabela (Mbabane Swallows FC), Khanyakwezwe Shabalala (Mbabane Highlanders FC) Phephisani Msibi (Royal Leopard FC)
DEFENDERS: Mlamuli Msibi (Royal Leopard FC),Sikhumbuzo Magagula (Royal Leopard FC),Machawe Dlamini (Royal Leopard FC) ,Lindo Mkhonta (Young Buffaloes FC) , Sihlangu Mkhwanazi (Young Buffaloes FC) ,Siboniso Mamba (Young Buffaloes FC) Kwakhe Tfwala (Young Buffaloes FC), Peter Dlamini (Mbabane Highlanders FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Mzwandile Mabelesa (Royal Leopard FC), Sifiso Matse (Royal Leopard FC), Junior Magagula (Royal Leopard FC), Siboniso Ngwenya (Young Buffaloes FC), Khetho Mkhontfo (Green Mamba FC), Leon Manyisa (Mbabane Swallows FC), Philani Mkhontfo (Mbabane Highlanders FC), Neliso Dlamini (Manzini Wanderers FC)
STRIKERS: Sandile Gamedze (Young Buffaloes FC), Fanelo Mamba (Young Buffaloes FC), Muzi Tsabedze (Manzini Sea Birds FC), Sabelo Ndzinisa (Mbabane Highlanders FC), Justice Figareido (Cape Town All Stars FC), Bonginkosi Dlamini (G.D. Sagrada Esperanca FC)