By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – The National team, Sihlangu has been drawn in the group of death in the COSAFA Cup after the draw on Friday morning.
They face hosts, South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique in Group A of the group stages with only one team qualifying for the knockout stage (semi-finals). Sihlangu is going to the tournament set to kick-off July 26 with the finals on July 7 with a youthful squad that was announced by interim Coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane on Thursday.
Sihlangu players are expected to report for camp Friday afternoon at the Technical Centre, Lobamba.
There are three groups from the 12 countries. Group B comprise of defending champions, Zambia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe while one team is yet to be confirmed and Group C consists of Angola, Namibia, Comoros and Seychelles.
The COSAFA Cup will be played at Qgeberha (Port Elizabeth) for the two weeks. The tournament was last hosted in Eastern Cape in 2021 during the COVID-19 period and the past two editions have been played in Durban.
Sihlangu while under departed Coach Domini Kunene was eliminated by South Africa last year while they were on the brink of qualifying for the semi-finals. They lost the match 2-1 with the neighbouring state, South Africa coming from behind.
THE GROUPS:
GROUP A
South Africa
Mozambique
Eswatini
Botswana
GROUP B
Zambia
Team to be confirmed
Comoros
Zimbabwe
GROUP C
Angola
Namibia
Lesotho
Seychelles
