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By MGCINI DUBE | 2024-12-23
Eswatini………………… (0)0
Madagascar……………..(2)2
SOCCER - IT remains a dream! Sihlangu Semnikati will have to double their effort if they are to qualify for the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) to be held early next year.
This comes after the nation’s pride lost 0-2 to Madagascar during a match played at Lucas Moripe Stadium last night.
All coach Zdravko Logarusic’s men needed to do was to beat the islanders to increase their chances of qualifying for the main tournament.
The CHAN competition, which exclusively features locally-based players from the respective nations, will take place between February 1 and 28, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania hosting the prestigious tournamentThe visitors started the match on the front foot as they came hard at the opposition.
Madagascar, who are ranked 116 in the FIFA rankings and 25th in Africa, opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a strike from Christiano Razafimanana.
Eswatini are the 159th-ranked team in the world and 44th in Africa.
Sihlangu were again caught on a counter-attack in the 26th minute as Mike Razafimahatana went on a run from the wing burst his way inside the box and fired a strike past goalkeeper Xolani Gama at the near post.
advantage
This was after a defensive blunder by Ndumiso Ndaba, giving the opposition more advantage.
As means to create more options going forward, Sambulo ‘Masoso’ Simelane came in for Philani Mkhonto while Bongi ‘Karas’ Magagula replaced Ndumiso Ndaba.
With nothing much to show for both sides after the goals, the game went to the break with the visitors enjoying a healthy 2-0 lead.
The second half was a replica of the first stanza with the visitors taking the match to Sihlangu.
The home side tried to fight back but it was not to be as they failed to create clear cut chances. In fact, Sihlangu was unlucky not concede more goals in what can be best defined as a one side encounter.
The only real chance in the second half came when Junior Magagula tried to pull one back but his effort was cleared off the line.
Madagascar controlled the match as they resorted to a cautious approach.
They protected their 2-0 lead until the referee blew the final whistle.
Sorrow was written all over Sihlangu players’ faces as they walked down the tunnel knowing that they should be at their in the second leg.
Madagascar will host their game in Mauritius as they also do not have a FIFA approved stadium.
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