It was not a good start for the Eswatini Senior Women National Team as they lost their opening match against Lesotho in the on-going Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women Championship. This match was played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. Eswatini goalkeeper, Eunice Mbuli did have a good day in office as she made two blunders that resulted in Lesotho taking a two-goal lead at half time. This forced Eswatini technical bench to substitute her at half time for Gcinile Dlamini. Both goalkeepers earned their first full cap for the national team which was a similar case with a majority of the Eswatini players as they have been promoted from the U20 Women National Team.
The Lesotho Women National Team Captain, Boitumelo Rabale was a thorn to the Eswatini national team as she scored a hattrick which made the final score to 3-0 in favour of Lesotho. The youthful Eswatini National Team did create some goal scoring opportunities in each half with Nonjabuliso Mokgale giving the Basotho defence some tough time. Mokgale was unlucky when her chip -shot was saved by the Basotho goalkeeper Mpolokeng Mothomotsoana after outpacing the defence of Lesotho.
Tibonile Dlamini should have reduced the deficit in the first half when her shot was saved by the Basoth goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation. Eswatini was also unlucky in the second half when the pacey Nonjabuliso Mokgale layed a pass for Lisanda Ndzinisa outside the box whose powerful shot hit the upright with Mpolekeng Mothomotsoana well beaten. Nonjabuliso Ndlela from South Africa who was the referee of this match blew the final whistle which guaranteed Lesotho’s maximum points with Eswatini still trailing by 3-0.