Jacobs and Makhukhula: Photo Credit:
Namibia Football Association.
Eswatini senior women’s football team coach Bongani Makhukhula attributed their 0-3 loss to Namibia to ‘too much respect’ on Friday, February 21, 2025.
The Sitsebe SaMhlekazi coach said this in a post-match media briefing of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) first-round qualifier at Somhlolo National Stadium.
“We respected our opponents, which resulted in us conceding those goals. However, moving forward, we will rectify those mistakes,” Makhukhula said.
The visitors dominated proceedings effortlessly going ahead barely a minute into the game through Viola Vlite’s strike. Some 15 minutes later, Ivone Kooper extended the lead for the Brave Gladiators to take a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Hilma Kanyama sealed the victory with a 90th-minute strike, much to the delight of Namibia’s coach Woody Jacobs.
In a post-match interview, Jacobs praised the hosts, saying: “Eswatini has quality players. It is a pity they couldn’t get lucky to score goals as they had numerous chances.”
Eswatini face Namibia in the second-leg match on Tuesday, 25 February at Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The overall winner between Namibia and Eswatini will proceed to the second round alongside 15 other teams and join seeded South Africa, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana, and Zambia in the final qualifying phase.
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