SIHLANGU MARCH ON IN CHAN

Malawi................... (0)1
Mecium Mhone 58th
Eswatini................. (0)1
Sandile Gamedze 52nd
Aggregate: 1-1
(Sihlangu won away goal rule)

MBABANE – Sihlangu are slowly getting the monkey off their back. Following a barren two years, they managed to grind a memorable 1-all draw on the road against Malawi to storm into the second round of the African Nations Championships (CHAN) qualifiers for the first time in their history. After keeping their back door shut in the reverse fixture at home on April 20, Sandile Gamedze’s strike yesterday proved decisive, as Kostadin Papic’s men got a slot in the next round on away goal rule.

Sihlangu will face Angola in the penultimate round of the qualifiers between July 26 and August 4 this year.
If Sihlangu pass the Angola test, they are likely to face Botswana, Seychelles or Zambia in the third and final round later this year. It will be during the weekend of September 20-22 for the first leg. The final leg decider will be played on the weekend of October 18-20.

qualifiers

The qualifiers for the tournament, which is open to players playing in their domestic leagues, are played on a zonal basis. At least 47 teams are engaged in the battle for 15 places to join the hosts Cameroon at the sixth 2020 CHAN finals.

With no win for Sihlangu in an official  game since the 0-1 victory over guest nation DR Congo in a Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup bronze medal game in 2016, it was no surprise when the travelling Eswatini officials treated coach Papic to a bear hug yesterday while others ‘swam’ in the turf in jubilation. The match was streamed live on Malawi’s online media platforms.

For Papic, it was also a reprieve, as he did not only celebrate his first goal as Sihlangu coach in three attempts, but made a bold statement ahead of the COSAFA Cup late this month. His troops were drawn against Angola, Comoros and   Mauritius.

Back to the game, it seemed Sihlangu had done their homework, as they showed no respect for the hosts at their happy hunting ground, styled Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.  It took 52 minutes for Sihlangu to break the deadlock through the shining Young Buffaloes star, who broke free to put the national outfit ahead.
Malawi had responded six minutes through Mecium Mhone, who was set up by substitute Mike Mkwate.

In the dying minutes of game, Malawi had thrown everything into attack, while Sihlangu opted to wind down the clock. 
The six minutes added by Zimbabwean referee Brighton Chimene was torturous for the visitors, but they hanged on for dear life to celebrate the big result.

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