AFTER their gallant showing against Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the World Cup qualifiers, Sihlangu players are confident that they can qualify for the African Nations Cup in 2017.
The players agreed unanimously in separate interviews on arrival in the country through the Ngwenya border gate that they lessons learnt in the game against the continental’s powerhouse would go a long way in helping them cope against tougher countries.
Overlapping left back, Sanele Mkhweli said the Nigerians were fast but noted that they could have won the game.
“They were a bit faster in the first leg compared to the second leg encounter but we were able to match them. We also create our own chances, which could have seen us advance.
All in all, it was not our day and we lost to a better team.
“I am confident that with this experience, we now stand a better chance of qualifying for the AFCON when one considers that we have two home games coming against Zimbabwe and Guinea,” said the left footed defender.
Playmaker, Zweli ‘Mlilo’ Nxumalo noted that the squad could have won the game even away from home, as their opponents were struggling even at home.
“We had a great chance to take the lead when the score was still 0-0 but unfortunately we could not covert it. We were so unlucky. I am positive that the complexion of the game could have changed had we utilised the chance we got,” he said.
Defender Phumlani Dlamini who got a red card during the clash towards the end said there was nothing he could have done to avoid the referee from sending him for an early shower.
“It was just an unfortunate incident, which I could do nothing about. Such things happen in the game of football,” he said.
Culled from Times of Swaziland
