BUFFS COULIBALY-ED

(At Mavuso Sports Centre)

Y. Buffaloes…….(0) 1

Bongwa 83rd

Etoile du Sahel…(1) 2

Coulibaly 5th, 71st 

MANZINI – As per his prediction, Etoile Sportive du Sahel striker Souleymane Coulibaly scored a brace to lead his side to a 2-1 win over Young Buffaloes in the CAF Confederation Cup first leg playoffs match here yesterday.

The former English Premiership League side, Tottenham Hotspurs forward, had predicted a 2-0 win and he made sure of this after his two goals put his side one foot into the tournament’s group stages. 

Buffaloes’ goal which gave them a glimmer of hope that they could pull a shocker in the second leg match away was scored by youngster Bongwa Matsebula with seven minutes before full-time.

The aggregate winner between the two sides will qualify for the group stages. Etoile Sportive du Sahel, who have won the CAF Confederation Cup five times, came to the game as hot favourites to win the match and they started like a house on fire, pressing the home side in their own backyard. 

In the absence of first choice goalkeeper Nhlanhla Gwebu, replacement Sicelo Mkhwanazi was called to action barely a minute into the game when he saved Aymen Sfaxi’s free-kick just outside the box. 

Mkhwanazi had to steal the ball away from Sfaxi a minute later as du Sahel players cried for a penalty that was not given by the referee, who waved play-on despite the wild protests.

It came as no surprise when Coulibaly headed in a well-taken cross by Captain Chikaqui Yassine four minutes later. He headed into the far left corner of net easily beating Mkhwanazi.

control

In the first 20 minutes, du Sahel were in full control of the match enjoying short passes and enjoying a lot of ball possession and retention. 

Buffaloes’ chances of surging forward came in after the half-hour mark when Wandile ‘Skosh’ Shabangu and Sibonelo Sibandze delivered some crosses that were well dealt with by the opponents defence inside the 18 area.

Buffaloes’ striker Ndoda Mthethwa was unlucky as his ground shot was well-saved by du Sahel goalkeeper Walid Kridane towards the end of the first half. 

... continues on Page 39

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