AFCON QUALIFIERS:

Botswana ........ (2)2

Tefo 23rd, Tawana 39th

Eswatini .......... (0)1

‘Tiger’ 75th

Eswatini won 3-2 on aggregate

MBABANE – They have made the country proud.

The country’s national Under-23s football team are through to the second round of the 2023 TOTALEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers after surviving a scare from Botswana yesterday.

Despite losing 1-2 away at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Botswana yesterday, Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini’s lone 75th minute strike proved to be the difference, as it propelled Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane’s charges to next round with a 3-2 aggregate win. In the first leg at Somhlolo National Stadium last Friday, Eswatini had scored two unanswered goals.

Having trailed 2-0 at half-time after goals from Tefo Austin Molefe and Tawana Mbakile levelled the tie, Eswatini needed a response on resumption of play. ‘Tiger’ proved to be what the doctor ordered for the visitors, who were the only scorers in the second half.