SOUTH AFRICA V ESWATINI | TUESDAY 02 JULY | NMB Stadium | 15:00
This Tuesday, July 02nd, 2024, South Africa and Eswatini will clash in the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup. The group will conclude when these two sides meet, with Mozambique set to play Botswana simultaneously.
To win (90 min)
South Africa 7/10
Draw 23/10
Eswatini 42/10
SOUTH AFRICA
Stand-in coach Helman Mkhalele has his back up against the wall as his side takes to the pitch in a must-win encounter in Group A. With the group firmly in the balance, the host nation could crash out from the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup, during the group stages.
South Africa and old foes Botswana also could not find a goal between them as they played to an entertaining goalless draw on matchday 2, leaving the pool on a knife-edge going into the final round of games. It appears that the youthful squad Mkhalele selected has not quite worked out, delivering two points from a possible six.
All four teams in the group currently sit on two points meaning anything can happen in this group. What is likely is that only the top spot will be good enough as traditionally the best second-placed team in the pool stages has gone through with six points. The maximum these teams can get is five. The failure to beat Mozambique and Botswana has left them in an awkward position where they could fail to proceed to the knockouts …
ESWATINI
Eswatini played out a goalless draw with Mozambique on matchday 2, a fixture in which The Mambas edged the play with 11 goal attempts to six, but could not find the back of the net. This time around Eswatinit will be looking to go and claim maximum points against the hosts.
Eswatini will take solace knowing that Bafana Bafana has managed just a single goal which they scored in the 1-1 draw with Mozambique. This must-win encounter will spur the players on for the clash against South Africa.
All four sides have two points but South Africa tops the table by virtue of the Fair Play record (with one fewer yellow card than Mozambique). With defending champions and record seven-time winner Zambia crashing out of the tournament, who’s to say that the winner couldn’t be from this group.
PREDICTION: South Africa win
I expect this one to be a competitive match, but victory goes to the hosts. With the backing of their home supporters, I can see them going deep into the tournament.
Written by Desh Parthab