By Sabelo Gwebu | 2018-10-17
Sihlangu................... (0)0
Egypt....................... (1)2
SOCCER – SLOW, circuitous, cowardly and unsure!
These words sum-up not just Sihlangu’s yesterday 0-2 defeat at the hands of a bold Egypt but also life under Anthony Mdluli as the senior football national team coach. Sihlangu’s dream of a first ever spot in the Africa Cup of Nations are up in smoke with two games remaining.
Next month’s home match against Niger and the away fixture to Tunisia early next year will be dead-rubber. They mean nothing at all, even if the nation’s pride were to win these matches by cricket scores.
half
Goals from either side of the half from English Premier League’s West Bromwich centre back Ahmed Hegazy and Al Ahly striker Marwan Mohsen were enough to transport Egypt to the AFCON finals to be staged in Cameroon next June, ending abruptly Sihlangu’s thin veiled hopes here at Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday afternoon.
Under Mdluli, Sihlangu’s defensive style of play is not appealing hence just about 500 watched with ewe this game, Sihlangu’s lowest home game attendance in years. The people are losing interest. The about 50 local-based Egyptians who came through to witness their side out sang the locals and for ‘The Pharaohs’, it was a matter of being home away from home.
deployed
Again, players were deployed in their not natural positions. It was always going to backfire and it did. Siboniso ‘Gaxa’ Ngwenya, an anchorman at Young Buffaloes was played at right back with Lindo Mkhonta sacrificed and like it happened away in Cairo last Friday, established centre back Machawe Dlamini was moved to a defensive midfield role. It beats logic when it has always been said; the international stage is not one for experiments.
Surprisingly, Mdluli in a home match started with six natural defenders and bar all-rounder Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze’. The mentality going to this game, a must win game that was supposed to keep Eswatini’s hopes alive, was negative. But then, Sihlangu started off well with South Africa’s Maritzburg United striker Justice ‘Figa’ Figuareido working space on the far post from a Wandile Maseko cross on the left to force a save from Mohamed Elsayed after just two minutes.
A minute later, Sihlangu was on the break, this time Captain Tony Tsabedze shooting agonisingly wide a loose ball just on top of the big box. But that was all Sihlangu could offer on the day. The visitors started controlling the tempo of the game and after 19 minutes, the deadlock was broken. Hegazy rose highest from a Mahmoud Hassan corner kick to nod home the opener. From here, the question was how many goals Egypt will score but somehow, against all odds, Sihlangu held their own.
Eight minutes after resumption, Egypt doubled their advantage. Marwan of Africa’s most successful side in history Al Ahly showed composure about ten yards out to beat Sandanezwe Mathabela hands down. Centre backs Siboniso ‘Sithobela’ Mamba and Banele ‘Makonose’ Dlamini were slow in closing the man down.
Marwan could have got a brace but nodded onto the side net on the far post an inviting Ahmed Eissa of England’s Aston Villa on the right before Tsabedze forced a brave save from Elsayed.
Deep
Deep into Sudanese referee Mahmood Ismail three minutes added time, Sihlangu should have got a consolation as Mthunzi ‘Xavi’ Mkhontfo raced clear to goal but his weak shot was swallowed by Elsayed.
The AFCON dream is over. Tunisia and Egypt are among the first teams to secure places for next year’s finals nice and early.
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