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2024 COSAFA Cup
Group A
South Africa v Eswatini
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Gqeberha, South Africa
Tuesday, 2 July 2024
Kick-off is at 15h00
South Africa will go in search of their first win at the 2024 COSAFA Cup when they lock horns with neighbours Eswatini at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Tuesday, July 2.
Group A remains wide open going into the final round of matches as all four teams are tied on two points, with Bafana Bafana in pole position and Mozambique occupying second place.
Helman Mkhalele's side have yet to hit their stride on home soil after playing out to a 1-1 draw with the Mambas first up on June 26 before being held to a goalless stalemate by Botswana three days later.
Mkhalele acknowledged his preparations for the tournament haven't been ideal as the players are lacking match fitness due to it being the off-season, which has affected their confidence.
"What we will do is to have more of the off-field sessions to work on the mental state and when we train, it is not going to be a hectic session," he said.
"We need them fresh for the next game not to have them physically drained. We will try to find the balance and most of the things we will be doing will be working on their confidence because I know they are starting to doubt themselves.
"I must come in and uplift that confidence in them to go out and make sure we get maximum points."
Eswatini need a result against South Africa to stay in the tournament and they will take heart from their most recent meeting on 13 October 2023 which ended in a 0-0 draw.
Sifiso Ntibane's side will also be buoyed by the fact that they've yet to concede a goal and showed their battling qualities against a much more physical Mozambique last time out.
Ntibane was pleased with the performance of his young players as they held the Mambas to a goalless draw and stated they will be even better prepared for the clash with Bafana Bafana.
"This was a very tough, tactical warfare and my boys stood their ground. We went all out," he said. "This was a one-week old team, young boys, giving them experience and giving them the exposure, but they stood their ground against physical Mozambique.
"We analysed them very well. They have very good half wingers, the number seven and the number 10, but we couldn't open the spaces in the middle so they couldn't penetrate us and I'm happy with the boys.
"Yes we could have got that one goal in the first 10 minutes, but we were unlucky and the final 10 minutes we were breaking, but that final pass couldn't get the right person so we will work on how to penetrate and get the goals."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Meetings)
Matches - 5
South Africa wins - 4
Eswatini wins - 0
Draws - 1
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