By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – The Eswatini National Football team, Sihlangu’s duo of Felix Badenhorst and Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa remains the COSAFA Cup top goal scores ahead of the tournament early next month.
The duo have the chance of scoring more goals as they are part of the team announced by Croatian Coach Zdravko Loogarusic that will represent the country in the tournament set for June 4 to 14, 2025 in Mangaung, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
They are among the top scorers from the 14 member national under the Council of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA).
According to cosafa.com, Badenhorst is the top goal scorer from all the players with nine goals and he is followed by Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa with eight goals alongside former Zimbabwe forward Peter Ndlovu.
“Goals win games and there have been many great strikers who have made their name in the HOLLYWOOODBETS COSAFA Cup over the last 28 years. Badenhorst was in superb form in the 2016 COSAFA Cup with five goals as Eswatini finished third.
He added another goal in 2017 and then two more in 2019. He moved to the top of the list as greatest scorer in the competition’s history with a goal in a 3-1 win over Lesotho in 2021. Only one goal behind him is compatriot Sabelo Ndzinisa, who has eight goals, making him second highest scorer ever in the competition,” reads a statement from cosafa.com.
Other players who shoen from each of the 14 members nations are Ibroihim Youssouf (Comoros Islands) 5 goals, Victor Letsoalo (South Africa) 4 goals, Kersley Appou (Mauritius) 4 goals, Philip Zialor (Seychelles) 4 goals, Fabrice Akwa, Love Cabungula, Depu (Angola) 5 goals, Sarivahy Vombola (Madagascar) 5 goals, Justin Shonga (Zambia) 6 goals, Deon Hotto (Namibia) 6 goals, Gabadinho Mhango (Malawi) 6 goals, Onkabetse Makgantai (Botswana) 6 goals, Manuel ‘Tico-Tico’ Bucuane (Mozambique) 7 goals and Peter Ndlovu (Zimbabwe) 8 goals.
