By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – The National team, Sihlangu is expected to be all out to register a point when they play Mauritius in match day four of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The match for the bottom placed side will be played at the Cote d’Or National Sports Complex, kick-off 3pm. The Dominic Kunene led side had lost all their three opening fixtures in Group D of the qualifiers. They lost 2-0, 1-0 to Cape Verde and Libya respectively in the first two opening fixtures. They then lost 1-0 to Angola on Friday and now heading for the fourth game without a point and placed at the bottom of the six team’s log.
Both teams will be looking to get back on track after suffering defeats in their last games with Mauritius losing 1-2 to Libya last Thursday. Mauritius lost 0-3 to Cameroon in their opening fixture and played a goalless draw against Angola before losing 1-2 to Libya recently, placed second from the bottom (Ahead of Sihlangu) with a point.
The two sides are faced with a must-win task on the road to avoid being left too far behind in the race for a World Cup berth as they are with some of the Africa’s football giants in the group including Cameroon, Angola, Libya and Cape Verde.
Sihlangu who are better ranked 148 as compared to the 183 spot held by Mauritius were victorious in their last meeting against the Islanders. They won 3-0 and this was during the 2022 COSAFA Cup played in Durban South Africa in group stages.
Sihlangu Coach Dominic Kunene is expected to go all out in search for goals to win the clash as they had never lost a game in the past two meeting with Mauritius, playing a 2-all draw in 2019 and the 3-0 win in 2022.
He is expected to start with Royal Leopard experienced goalkeeper Ncamiso ‘Mbhonyo’ Dlamini in goal after Nsinginzi Hotspurs Sibusiso Dlamini suffered a minor injury on Friday against Angola. The country’s season to goal scorer Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa is expected to start upfront alongside Mbabane Swallows Ayanda Gadlela.
