By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – The captain of the National Football Team, Sihlangu, Felix Badenhorst, stated that they are prepared to represent the country with distinction against Cameroon.
The two teams will face off on Wednesday (March 19, 2025) in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, with kick-off scheduled for 6pm. Badenhorst is stepping in as captain for Junior Magagula, who has been ruled out of the match.
Speaking after their afternoon training session at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday, Badenhorst expressed confidence in their ability to achieve positive results. He acknowledged the respect they have for Cameroon, recognising them as one of the premier teams in Africa, but emphasised their commitment to giving their best performance.
“We know that Cameroon is a powerhouse in Africa. We respect their history and the quality of their players. As the coach mentioned, we have prepared thoroughly and reviewed some of their match footage. We are aware of their weaknesses, and tomorrow, we will undoubtedly go out there to represent the country well,” he said.
Badenhorst expressed his gratitude for being part of the team and thanked the coach for granting him the opportunity to compete alongside the squad. The Royal Leopard forward had been sidelined from the national team for an extended period until the appointment of Croatian coach Zdravko Logarusic in August of last year.
Meanwhile, Coach Zdravko Logarusic affirmed that the team is ready to represent the country effectively against the 49th ranked team in the FIFA World Rankings, while Sihlangu is currently ranked 159th.
“We have made good preparations, and we are ready for the match. We will ensure that we represent the country well,” he stated.
Sihlangu currently sits at the bottom of the group of six teams, while Cameroon tops the table.
