U-20S TWO-GOOD FOR BOTSWANA

LOBAMBA – Eswatini Under-20 forward Mayibongwe ‘Suarez’ Mabuza’s 90 minute strike gave the country a positive start in the 2022  Under-20 COSAFA Championship grand opening match played here yesterday.

This year’s edition, hosted by the country, serves as a qualifier for the 2023 Under-20 TOTALEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be staged in Egypt. The match was preceded by another Group A encounter between Zambia and Mauritius which ended 3-0 in favour of the young Chipolopolo. The win gave the locals some hope for reaching the knockout stage for the first time after over two decades playing in the tournament. They face Zambia who are leading the group after the 3-0 victory yesterday on tomorrow in their next fixture of group A.

The only time Eswatini have managed the feat before was in 2002 and it came via default as they lost 2-0 to Zimbabwe in the only game in Group B, which had been turned into a two-team pool by Madagascar’s withdrawal. The country’s juniors last won a match at the COSAFA Under-20 Championships six years ago beating the same Botswana 2-0. Before that the Eswatini Youth Squad, did not win a match in championships between 2004 and 2016.

Save

Eswatini goalkeeper was called to make a save as early as the first minute of the game when Thabang Aphiri’s deadly cross nearly caught him off guard. The visitors pilled pressure on the host team in the first  minutes of the highly entertaining match, but Eswatini broke the deadlock  against the run of play when Nonofo Mosweunyane, beat his own goalkeeper 14 minutes into the game from a well-delivered cross by the enterprising Sinenkosi Dlamini. Botswana reduced the deficit three minutes before the half-hour mark as Mosweunyane scored his second goal of the match as his corner kick was swayed into the net by the strong winds to level matters.

Eswatini were the better side in the second stanza as Sinenkosi was a constant threat with his off and on the ball runs down the left flank. His well taken shot was saved by the goalkeeper. The host nation should have added another goal when the galloping winger Banele Nkambule’s long range shot outside the box was a tipped for a fruitless corner kick a few minutes into the second half. Eswatini eventually found the much needed goal at the stroke of full time, when Sinenkosi made a daring run down the right flank and delivered a gift-wrapped pass which was connected by Saurez, who easily tapped the ball into the net, leaving the goalkeeper sprawled on the new installed Somhlolo National Stadium artificial turf.

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