Togo beat Eswatini to keep hopes alive
Togo secured a 2-0 win over Eswatini in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification Group B match at the Mbombela Stadium in South Africa on Sunday evening.
The win boosted the Sparrow Hawks’ ambitions of qualifying for the Afcon finals and the West African side will now face Cape Verde at home in their last Group B game in September this year.
Sihlangu Semnikati, on the other hand, remain fourth on the Group B standings with their dream of qualifying for the finals having ended and they will be away to Burkina Faso in September this year.
It took 14 minutes for the Sparrow Hawks to the break the deadlock as Ahoueke Denkey beat goalkeeper Ncamiso Dlamini with a decent finish to hand Togo a 1-0 lead after the Eswatini defence was exposed.
Sihlangu Semnikati surged forward in numbers as they looked to level matters, but the Togo defence which was led by Getafe CF central defender Djene Dakonam stood firm and the visitors were leading 1-0 at the interval.
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With his side struggling to penetrate the Sparrow Hawks defence and create clear-cut chances, coach Dominic Kunene introduced Bongwa Matsebula in the 57th minute as the hosts looked to equalise.
However, Euloge Placca sealed Togo’s 2-0 win when the Shakhtyor Soligorsk star netted in stoppage time with Ihlas Bebou providing the assist after the Sihlangu Semnikati backline was exposed once again.
Eswatini (0) 0
Togo (1) 2 (Denkey 14′, Placca 90’+2)
Eswatini: N. Dlamini, Mkhwanazi, Mkhonta, S. Mamba, Thwala, Manana, Matse, Mkhontfo, M. Mabelesa, Ndzinisa, F. Mamba.
Togo: Ouro-Gneni, Dakonam, Bessilé, Amouzou, Romao, Aholou, Karim, Henen, Bebou, Placca, Denkey.