Sihlangu in Togo comeback trail
M– Locked out.
The national team Sihlangu will have the privilege of playing in the FNB Stadium, in South Africa for their second game in the 2023 TOTALEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers against Burkina Faso.
Eswatini is among the 22 countries that have stadiums that cannot meet the Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements. The country was then forced to find an alternative venue outside the country for the CAF games, and the neighbouring South Africa came to Eswatini’s rescue.
Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe speaking on national radio, the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS 1) Sports Show revealed that the Dominic Kunene-led side would play its game against Burkina Faso at the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium.
Unfortunately
“As you know that Sihlangu is away in Togo for the first game and after the match they would then return to South Africa for the second game. This game will be played at FNB Stadium, but unfortunately it will be behind closed doors,” Radebe said.
He did not,however, give any reasons for keeping fans out save to say this was an agreement between EFA and the stadium management.
When asked to elaborate on the agreement Radebe said the stadium did not belong to them so he could not explain further.
According to information sourced from the internet, booking the FNB also known as the Soccer City can range from an estimated E100 000 to almost E524 000, depending on the event.
However, to go to the break leading 1-0 gave hope that they would not match the Emmanuel Adebayor-led squad that whipped Sihlangu 6-0 in the second leg in this venue.
This was in 2008 in a World Cup Qualifier. Eswatini had stunned them 2-1 at Somhlolo National Stadium withSouthAfricanEphraem‘Shakes’ Mashaba the head coach. Kunene’s charges had been resistant despite the pressure from Togo but a foul just outside the D-line saw the home side take the lead. A thunderbolt free kick by troublesome forward E. Placca Fessou went past goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela’s hands as he got a touch but could not stop the bullet from landing in the top corner of the net right in the near post. Sihlangu held on until the second half, whereby they started the better team, playing some good passes on the ground and purposefully surged forward. They were in control of the game given the first half pressure they took as they limited playing space for the Togolese who were dangerous on the wings and forced some a couple of good reflex saves from Mathabela. However, as the match went end to end, sometimes Togo looking more of a threat, it was Sihlangu that deservedly equalised via a trademark header from assistant squad Captain
Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa. He nodded past the goalkeeper from six yards a well delivered right wing cross by super substitute Philani Mkhontfo who combined well with Captain Lindo Mkhonta and right wing midfielder Sifiso Matse who was unlucky not to score late in the first half. Some purposeful football was on the cards here and the home crowd could sense it as the dancing went and singing lowered after the equaliser and Sihlangu improved game. However, it was short-lived joy for Eswatini as Togo’s yet another troublesome forward Kodjo Fo Doh Laba also headed one in from Ayike’s corner kick delivery three minutes later.
It looked as though it as all over for Eswatini, but they did not give up and when five minutes of stoppage time was added, one could sense that yet more twists were possible and very much so as Eswatini restored parity to silence the whole stadium right at the death of stoppage time. It was a rocket volley by midfielder Siboniso Ngwenya who was teed up by Saviola a few yards outside the box a little on the right, it landed at the back of the net at the near post after a ricochet on the cross bar. It was 2-2, time up and as soon as the final whistle came, it was wild celebrations from the visitors’ bench who rushed onto the pitch to join the players.