BOTH ESWATINI AND SOMALIA PREDICT A DIFFICULT MATCH WHEN THEY MEET IN THE TOTALENERGIES AFCON PRELIMINARY ROUND QUALIFIERS
The Eswatini Senior Men’s National Team (Sihlangu SeMnikati) Head Coach, Dominic Kunene thinks they have a better chance of qualifying for the next phase of the TotalEnergies AFCON Qualifiers 2025 Finals when they play against Somalia on Tuesday, 26th March 2024. “We stand a good chance to qualify; however, we have to work hard on our psychological aspect,” Kunene said during the pre-match press conference held at the Mbombela Stadium.
Sihlangu SeMnikati head coach urged EmaSwati to come in their numbers to the Mbombela Stadium to support the national team. “Every player is ready for the match and we urge the Eswatini populace to come to the Mbombela Stadium and support the players”, Kunene said. His words were echoed by the Sihlangu SeMnikati captain Sifiso Matse who highlighted that every player in camp is ready and focused to the match. “Everyone is ready and focused to the match regardless that like any other international match, the is pressure for them to win this match and qualify to the next round,” Matse said.
The Somalian National Team head coach Rachid Lousteque promised a different approach for this match compared to the first leg. “We will change our approach for this match and also correct our mistakes,” Lousteque said. He also highlighted that, this will be a difficult match; however, they are not under pressure. Eswatini have good players and we also have good players who play in Europe,” Lousteque said. The Captain of the Somalian National Team Adulsamad Abdullah stated that they want a win in as far as this match is concerned. “We want to win and as a captain, I will work hard for my national team in order for us to win this match,” Abdullah said.
These two national teams met in Morocco last week Wednesday in Morocco and Eswatini won that match by 3-0. The second leg will be played on the 26th March 2024 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit and kick-off is at 1300hrs G.M.T.
