African Champions Senegal Squeak Past Unfancied Eswatini in Classic 2022 COSAFA Cup Quarterfinal

• African champions Senegal had to work hard in squeaking past Eswatini on penalties in the COSAFA Cup quarterfinal
• Lamine Camara put the West African guests in the eighth minute with a curling free-kick, before Philani Mkhontfo equalised in the 60th minute
• Both teams endured a lengthy, agonising and ultimately enthralling penalty shootout that the Lions of Teranga won 10-9

Unfancied Eswatini will rue the day they missed the opportunity to upset 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winners Senegal.

The Lions of Teranga defeated Isihlangu Semnikati 10-9 in the third quarterfinal of the 2022 COSAFA Cup held at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban.

Senegal went into an early eight minute lead through fortuitously comical circumstances. Lamine Camara curled in a speculative freekick from out wide, which Eswatini goalkeeper Mathabela Sandanezwe mistakenly overshot, watching in dismay as the ball flew past his flailing arms untouched into the net.

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After finding their feet, the tiny landlocked nation proceeded to dominate the contest in its entirety from thereon. They were duly rewarded in the 60th minute when Philani Mkhontfo fired the ball expertly past onrushing giant goalie Alioune Badara Faty.

On either side of this equaliser, Isihlangu had numerous opportunities to bury the Lions, but fluffed these time after time. This included a staggering miss by Sikhumbuzo Magagula with an open goal at his mercy.

The penalty shootout was characterised by world-class penalty-taking. Seemingly set to go on forever, the shootout was decided by a dreadful Mzawandile Mabelesa satellite-finder that handed the tournament's guest a spot in the semifinals, where they will take on defending champions South Africa or Mozambique.

Bafana eyes COSAFA Cup semifinal spot when they tackle Mozambique in a crunch quarterfinal encounter

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Bafana Bafana will be looking to defend their COSAFA Cup title this year but will first have to see off Mozambique.

As reported on Sports Brief, the South African side will take on Mozambique in the quarter-final of the tournament, a repeat of last year’s semi-final. South Africa claimed bragging rights in the previous edition, beating Senegal on penalties in the final.

They also beat Mozambique in the semi-finals of the tournament on route to the final.