BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – The senior national team, Sihlangu has suffered 0-2 defeat at the hands of minnows, Eritrea.
This was on 25 March 2026 in Morocco, during their first leg preliminary round of the CAF TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The senior national team, affectionately known as Sihlangu, suffered a disappointing 2–0 defeat to a much lower ranked side in the FIFA rankings.
After holding firm for much of the match, Sihlangu conceded late goals in the dying minutes. Eritrea’s Siem Eyolo-Abrah broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute, before Alisuliman sealed the victory deep into stoppage time (90+4), putting the hosts in a commanding position.
Despite the loss, Eswatini showed resilience throughout the game, managing to contain Eritrea for long periods. Goalkeeper Qiniso Nyawo was a standout performer, producing a brilliant save to deny Eritrea from the penalty spot just before full-time and keep his side in contention.
With the first leg ending in defeat, attention now turns to the return leg at home, where Sihlangu will need a strong performance to overturn the deficit and keep their qualification hopes alive.
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