GALLANT SIHLANGU BOW OUT OF CHAN

Zambia .................(1)2
Chabula 5th, 56th
Eswatini ...............(0)2
Phinda 58th, Sifiso 77th

MBABANE – Sihlangu continue to stand their ground in away games.

Over is the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2020 finals dream for the country but what a way to bow out against one of the continent’s footballing giants, Zambia’s Chipolopolo! Sihlangu needed to win at all costs but managed to come from 2-0 behind to force a 2-all draw in the end. This was yesterday afternoon at National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka in Zambia.

Chipolopolo, who were already 1-0 ahead from the first leg, scored an early goal through brace hero Emmanuel Chabula in the 5th minute before grabbing the other in the 56th.

one-on-one situation

In both his goals, he gave the goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela no chance as the first was a tap in and the other a one-on-one situation, as Chabula was released with pass from deep in the middle of the field to outpace the last defender and score past the advancing keeper. He was substituted a minute after scoring his second and that seemed to be a wrong move as Sihlangu made its own changes, bringing in creative midfielder Fanelo Tsabedze for Wandile ‘Skosh’ Shabangu and this gave the visitors a boost going forward.

Eswatini started pushing and eventually forced Zambia to defend in numbers but after a briliiant move on the right flank between right back Lindo Mkhonta, attacking midfielder Sifiso Matse, whose final pass was gift-wrapped for an unmarked Phinda ‘Phindrix’ Dlamini inside the box. The Green Mamba striker made no mistake but took it first with his right to the top far corner as the goalkeeper knew little about it.

However, it was now 3-1 in aggregate and Eswatini needed two more goals. They had the time to do it and never stopped fighting, forcing Zambia to some defensive errors and fouls. In the 77th, it was 2-all, much to the chagrin of the home fans who blamed their coach Aggrey Chiyangi for taking out Chabula.

offside position

Levelling matters for Eswatini was Matse from what appeared to be an offside position and there were protests from Zambia but to no avail as the goal counted. It was a cross from Lindo Mkhonta once again on the right wing, which Fanelo Tsabedze jumped for but only did enough to distract the goalkeeper who was out for a catch only to spill it into an unmarked Matse who easily scored.

Tsabedze was fouled in the 90th minute right at the edge of the box as he combined well with his Royal Leopard teammate and substitute Bonginkosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini. As Eswatini prepared to take this final chance, the stoppage time was shown. Striker and scorer Phindrix took the set piece but was so unfortunate to watch it come off the woodwork right at the top of the left corner with the keeper at sea.

did not work

There was little more time to do anything after this miss as even the late throw in by Fanelo ‘Order’ Mamba did not work and that was it for Eswatini. It was Zambia through but had that set piece gone in, the stadium would have been dead silent. Lucky Zambia, unlucky Eswatini – that is just how a Zambian commentator put it in his analysis of the match.

The commentator also made it known that Eswatini knew little about ‘a lost cause’ as they kept going and created a few chances in the first half, while goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela also made three brilliant saves in the first half to keep Sihlangu in the game. It is Zambia through to the 2020 CHAN finals in Cameroon on 3-2 aggregate.

Eswatini returns home but there will be no rest for them as next month is also very busy and tough as they have a trip to Guinea-Bissau for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cup 2021 Qualifiers first leg, on November 11, before welcoming Sadio Mane’s Senegal on November 19. Meanwhile, Sihlangu is expected to be back home this evening.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: