SITSEBE OUT OF COSAFA CHAMPIONSHIP

MBABANE – Eswatini women’s national team Sitsebe is out of the COSAFA Women’s Championships.

They suffered a second blow in their COSAFA Women’s Championship 2021 campaign when they lost 5-1 to Uganda yesterday afternoon at Nelson Mandela Bay. This was their second defeat following a 5-0 bashing by Zambia’s Copper Ladies on Thursday. Uganda are now lodged on the log summit with four points after a goalless draw with Namibia and a victory against Eswatini. The local team remains pointless and submerged in the log bottom, marking the end of their race in the tournament.  Sitsebe lost 4-3 in their last game against Uganda in the same tournament played in November 9, 2020. They face Namibia in their last game of the group tomorrow at 3:30pm and it will be a consolation match as only group winners go through to the semi-finals.

Uganda drew first blood, going to the second half leading 2-0, thanks to Joan Nabirye who scored in the quarter hour mark and Lady Doves’ Ritah Nabbosa stretching their lead nine minutes later. Sitsebe conceded despite coach Dumisani Makhanya’s 23rd minute substitution of first choice goalkeeper Sukoluhle Sibandze, who plays for Young Buffaloes Ladies, hoping that Gcinile Dlamini would save them from more woes.  In search for a goal, Makhanya called in striker Nonjabuliso Mokgale to step in place for  Nomvula Sanga in 54 minutes and it was the kingdom’s 2019/2020 women’s league  top goalscorer, Celiwe Nkambule, who pulled one back for Eswatini in four minutes before the hour mark, putting the score at 2-1.

With less than 20 minutes remaining, Uganda stretched their lead to 3-1 through Sandra Nabweteme’s 62nd minute strike and as if out to prove their dominance to the local ladies who last played their domestic league in 2019/2020 until the eight game before COVID-19 forced them to a halt, Hasifa Nassuna scored a brace in the 72nd and 75th minute to make it 5-1. Two minutes added time after 90 minutes was not enough for Sitsebe to change their fate as their chances of progressing to the next round evaporated like morning dew upon sunrise. According to the statistics, Uganda had the upper hand over Sitsebe as they pulled 11 shots on target compared to only three for Eswatini.  The latter received two yellow cards for Tenanile Ngcamphalala and Samkelisiwe Malinga on foul play. Uganda had 55 per cent shots on target and 33 per cent for Eswatini. The score line could have been worse for Eswatini as Uganda had three offsides plus nine corner kicks while Eswatini had one corner kick and zero offsides.

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