BY SABELO GWEBU
MBABANE– Sihlangu has left the country for Lesotho for a friendly game against Likuena Likuena.
Both nations are preparing for back-to-back 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Cape Verde and Zambia respectively.
“The Lesotho Senior National Team, Likuena will face Eswatini’s Sihlangu in a training match on Thursday, March 16 at 3 pm as the two countries fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers,” the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) said in a statement.
Likuena will be away to Zambia in a match to be played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium and home away from home at Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg on March 23rd and 26th respectively.
Sihlangu on the other hand will be away in Cape Verde on March 23 and the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) is yet to communicate the venue for the home game on March 28 but pointers are that it will be staged at Mbombela Stadium in neighboring Mpumalanga.
The practice match according to LeFA will be played at LeFA’s Technical Centre at Bambatha Ts’ita Sports Arena.
Just like Sihlangu, Likuena have to play its home matches in South Africa due to the unavailability of Setsoto Stadium, which has been suspended from hosting international matches. Also, the Somhlolo National Stadium and Mavuso Sports Centre remained banned by the continental governing body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“The LeFA leadership invites Basotho to come and watch the match for free as this could be their last chance to watch Likuena on home soil until Sesotho Stadium has been upgraded to meet international standards,” the statement continued.
The effort to get comments from EFA proved to be futile by the time this article was being compiled.
2023 AFCON QUALIFIERS FIXTURE:
March 24
Cape Verde vs Eswatini 6pm
March 28
Eswatini vs Cape Verde 3pm
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
SIHLANGU SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Khanyakwezwe Shabalala (Mbabane Highlanders), Ncamiso Dlamini (Royal Leopard), Sibusiso Dlamini (Nsingizini Hotspurs), Mlamuli Makhanya (Royal Leopard), Mlungisi Nxumalo (Young Buffaloes) and Bhekisisa Dlamini (Moneni Pirates)
Defenders: Lindo Mkhonta (ZESCO United), 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), Siboniso Mamba (Young Buffaloes), Sikhumbuzo Magagula (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)
