Warriorsaï¿½ï¿½ qualification: Swaziland draws out calculators

Noel Munzabwa

SABELO Sikhali Ndzinisaaï¿½ï¿½s gem of a goal will be greatly remembered for making football followers turn to their calculators here in Swaziland.

The goal triggered celebrations in Zimbabwe as the nation qualified for the AFCON tournament in Gabon 2017.

As numbers would have it, there were some who had miscalculated. For example, some declared that the Warriors still needed a point from the dead rubber against Guinea in September.

Indeed in their wisdom they refused to believe our dear Warriors had qualified for Gabon 2017. While the countryaï¿½ï¿½s focus shifted to the COSAFA tournament- they believed the AFCON race was still on.

aï¿½?When I left Somhlolo National Stadium on Sunday after the fortuitous 1-0 win over Guinea, I didnaï¿½ï¿½t know whether to laugh or cry.

aï¿½?Reports had already filtered in that Zimbabweaï¿½ï¿½s Warriors had doused the Flames of MalawiAï¿½ to basically have one foot on the plane to Gabon for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

aï¿½?I donaï¿½ï¿½t want to be a wet blanket in winter to the multitudes of soccer crazy Swazis but the gospel truth is that our slender solitary goal win on Sunday was virtually inconsequential as theAï¿½ Warriors were simply on the driving seat in Harare.

aï¿½?It would now take a score-line defeat as improbable as yours truly being the next prime minister for Sihlangu to sneak from behind and lead Group L. Guinea would have to beat Zimbabwe by more than ten goals for Sihlangu to stand any remote chance. The reality is that it is no longer in the hands of Harries aï¿½?Madzeaï¿½ï¿½ Bulunga and his boys.

aï¿½?The 1-all draw with Zimbabwe at home and the 4-0 defeat away in Harare has left our chances of qualifying shrinking faster than woolly jumpers on a tumble drier.

aï¿½?But as you have read on the back page, oh, you havenaï¿½ï¿½t! You always like to start here at the state-of-the-nation sports address. Fine by me. But there is a silver lining of comfort in the dark cloud…aï¿½?

Dream on the Group L winners have been decided and that will not change even if Guinea improbably thrash Warriors 10-0 on a humid Conakry September afternoon and Sihlangu win in Malawi.

Such a scenario will leave both Zimbabwe and Swaziland on 11points.Aï¿½ It was the Easter holiday head to head that literally put the Warriors ahead and the best Sihlangu can do is to congratulate the winners and focus on winning in Malawi to prop up chances for the best runners up route.

That Swaziland could be one of the countries that could get aï¿½?back dooraï¿½ï¿½ entrance in the continental showpiece through the second best format where the number of points amassed might give you a reprieve is an undisputable fact.