BY SABELO GWEBU
MBABANE – Reigning MTN Premier League goalkeeper of the season Khanyakwezwe Shabalala has been added to Sihlangu’s provisional squad currently in camp for the back-to-back 2023 AFCON qualifiers match against Cape Verde.
The Mbabane Highlanders shot-stopper was one of many surprise exclusions by Coach Dominic Kunene in the team announced.
In a statement, the Eswatini Football Association said, “The Technical bench of the Senior Men National Team (Sihlangu) has added Mbabane Highlanders goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala in the goalkeeping department of the national team. The national team is currently training on Mondays and Tuesdays and will go to full time camp on Monday, March 13”.
MTN Premier League leading top scorer and Sihlangu’s all-time top scorer Felix Badenhorst is not part of the squad after he announced his retirement from international football.
The surviving players from Kunene’s squad that played the 2022 COSAFA Cup and September AFCON qualifiers against Togo and Burkina Faso include Philani Mkhontfo, Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze and Leon Manyisa among others as the former Young Buffaloes coach has gone for whole sale changes.
Sihlangu are in Group B and played to a 2-all draw away to Togo in the opening game before suffering a 3-1 defeat to Burkina Faso on match-day two which the nation’s pride hosted at FNB Stadium in neighbouring South Africa.
SIHLANGU SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Khanyakwezwe Shabalala (Mbabane Highlanders), Sibusiso Dlamini (Nsingizini Hotspurs), Mlamuli Makhanya (Royal Leopard), Mlungisi Nxumalo (Young Buffaloes) and Bhekisisa Dlamini (Moneni Pirates)
Defenders: Simanga Masangane (Royal Leopards), Sihlangu Mkhwanazi (Young Buffaloes), Vusi Vilakati (Mbabane Highlanders), Gift Gamedze (Madlenya), Lucky Gamedze (Madlenya), Mcolisi Manana (Green Mamba), Mlamuli Msibi (Royal Leopard) and Mkhuleko Magagula (Manzini Sea Birds)
Midfielders: Mzwandile Mabelesa (Royal Leopard), Sifiso Matse (Royal Leopard), Kwakhe Tfwala (Young Buffaloes), Bongiswa Dlamini (Young Buffaloes), Sandile Gamedze (Young Buffaloes), Leon Manyisa (Mbabane Swallows) and Mpendulo Tfomo (Mbabane Highlanders)
Strikers: Sabelo Ndzinisa (Green Mamba), Thubelihle Mavuso (Nsingizini Hotspurs), Bongwa Matsebula (Young Buffaloes), Fanelo Mamba (Young Buffaloes), Philani Mkhontfo (Mbabane Highlanders) and Njabulo Maziya (Madlenya)
2023 AFCON QUALIFIERS GROUP B
P W D L GF GA PTS
1 Burkina Faso 2 2 0 0 5 1 6
2 Cape Verde 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
3 Eswatini 2 0 1 1 3 5 1
4 Togo 2 0 1 1 2 4 1
