Eswatini Coach Zdravko Logarušić Vows to Fight On After 2-0 Loss to Madagascar in CHAN Qualifier

Eswatini's coach, Zdravko Logarušić, isn't giving up even though his team lost 2-0 at home to Madagascar in the first round of the 2025 African Nations Championship qualifiers on Saturday.

At the press conference after the game, Logarušić stayed positive and promised to make changes for the next match. “The game is still on. I think we now have learned our lessons. We have to stop giving the ball away; we’re just handing them chances,” he said.

Logarušić, who previously managed Zimbabwe’s Warriors, emphasized his belief that Eswatini could still turn the tie around ahead of the second leg in Madagascar next Sunday. "We are not giving up. We saw what we have to see. We’ll learn from our mistakes, change our system, and take more risks in the second leg. If they can score two goals here, why can’t we score two goals there?”

Eswatini, led by experienced players like Green Mambas FC’s Sabelo Ndzinisa, was outplayed by a clinical Madagascar side. Despite the defeat, the team remains determined to push for qualification after having previously eliminated Zimbabwe in the first round with a 4-0 aggregate victory.

Due to the lack of a certified venue in Eswatini, the match was played in South Africa. The second leg will take place at the Côte d'Or National Sports Complex in Mauritius on December 29.