Eswatini national football team

Eswatini
Nickname(s)	Sihlangu Semnikati (King's Shield)
Association	Eswatini Football Association
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach	Dominic Kunene
Captain	Siyabonga Mdluli
Most caps	Tony Tsabedze (71)
Top scorer	Felix Badenhorst (15)
Home stadium	Somhlolo National Stadium
FIFA code	SWZ
FIFA ranking
Current	147 1 (16 September 2021)
Highest	88 (April–May 2017)
Lowest	190 (September–October 2012)
First international
	Swaziland 2–0 Malawi ; (Swaziland; 1 May 1968)
Biggest win
	Djibouti 0–6 Swaziland ; (Djibouti; 9 October 2015)
Biggest defeat
	Egypt 10–0 Swaziland ; (Alexandria, Egypt; 22 March 2013)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances	19 (first in 1997)
Best result	Third place ; (2016, 2021) ; Semifinal; (1999, 2002, 2003)
show Medal record
COSAFA Cup

The Eswatini national football team, nicknamed Sihlangu Semnikati (King's Shield),^[4] represents Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, in international football and is controlled by the Eswatini Football Association. It has never qualified for the World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations finals. Swaziland's best performance in an international tournament is a semi-final finish in the COSAFA Cup.

On 8 June 2008 they achieved their first win in a World Cup qualifier since 1992, beating 2006 finalists Togo 2–1 on home soil. The team's best recent performance came in 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification where Eswatini finished second in Group L above Guinea and Malawi.

Competitive record[]

Africa Cup of Nations[]

Africa Cup of Nations record									Africa Cup of Nations record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1957 to 1968	Part of United Kingdom								Part of United Kingdom
1970 to 1976	Not affiliated to CAF								Not affiliated to CAF
1978	Did not enter								Did not enter
1980
1982
1984	Withdrew								Withdrew
1986	Did not qualify								2	0	0	2	1	8
1988	Did not enter								Did not enter
1990	Did not qualify								4	0	3	1	3	5
1992	Did not qualify								5	1	2	2	4	9
1994	Did not enter								Did not enter
1996	Withdrew								Withdrew
1998	Did not enter								Did not enter
2000	Did not qualify								2	0	1	1	2	3
2002									2	1	0	1	3	5
2004									6	2	2	2	8	12
2006									2	0	1	1	1	4
2008									6	0	3	3	0	7
2010									4	1	1	2	2	8
2012									6	0	0	6	2	14
2013	Withdrew								Withdrew
2015	Did not qualify								2	0	1	1	1	2
2017									6	2	2	2	6	9
2019									6	0	1	5	2	14
2021									4	0	1	3	1	9
2023	To be determined								To be determined
2025	To be determined								To be determined
Total	–	0/23	–	–	–	–	–	–	57	7	18	32	36	109

FIFA World Cup[]

FIFA World Cup record									FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Part of United Kingdom								Part of United Kingdom
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970	Not a FIFA member								Not a FIFA member
1974
1978
1982	Did not enter								Did not enter
1986
1990
1994	Did not qualify								3	1	1	1	1	5
1998									2	0	0	2	0	3
2002									2	0	0	2	1	8
2006									2	0	1	1	1	4
2010									4	1	1	2	2	8
2014									2	0	0	2	2	8
2018									4	2	1	1	8	3
2022									2	0	1	1	1	2
2026	To be determined								To be determined
Total	–	0/11	–	–	–	–	–	–	21	4	5	12	16	41

COSAFA Cup[]

COSAFA Cup record
Year	Rank	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1997	First round	1	0	0	1	0	1
1998	Quarterfinal	1	0	0	1	0	1
1999	Semifinal	3	1	2	0	5	3
2000	Quarterfinal	1	0	0	1	0	2
2001	Quarterfinal	2	0	1	1	1	2
2002	Semifinal	3	2	0	1	5	5
2003	Semifinal	2	1	0	1	2	2
2004	Quarterfinal	1	0	0	1	0	5
2005	First round	1	0	0	1	0	3
2006	First round	2	1	0	1	2	1
2007	First round	2	1	1	0	1	0
2008	First round	3	1	2	0	3	2
2009	First round	3	2	0	1	5	2
2013	First round	3	0	1	2	0	4
2015	First round	3	2	1	0	4	1
2016	Third place	6	3	2	1	9	7
2017	Quarterfinal	2	0	0	2	1	3
2018	Quarterfinal	2	0	0	2	0	3
2019	First round	2	0	2	0	4	4
2020	Cancelled
2021	Third place^[2]	6	2	3	1	8	6
Total	0/20	49	16	15	18	50	57

Recent results[]

Win Draw Loss Fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2020[]

12 November 2021 AFCONQ	Congo	2–0	Eswatini	showBrazzaville, Congo
17:00 UTC+1	Ibara 77' 81'	Report		Stadium: Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat Referee: Joseph Odey Ogabor (Nigeria)

16 November 2021 AFCONQ	Eswatini	0–0	Congo	showManzini, Eswatini
14:00 UTC+2				Stadium: Mavuso Sports Centre Referee: Hassan Mohamed Hagi (Somalia)

2021[]

26 March 2021 AFCONQ	Eswatini	1–3	Guinea-Bissau	showManzini, Eswatini
15:00 UTC+2	Badenhorst 21'	Report	Djaló 15' Semedo 25' Pelé 50'	Stadium: Mavuso Sports Centre Referee: Jean-Claude Ishimwe (Rwanda)

30 March 2021 AFCONQ	Senegal	1–1	Eswatini	showThiès, Senegal
16:00 UTC±0	Kouyaté 90+6'	Report	9'	Stadium: Stade Lat-Dior Referee: Sekou Ahmed Toure (Guinea)

8 June FIFA International Friendly	Mozambique	1–1	Eswatini	showMaputo
15:00 UTC+2		Report		Stadium: Estádio Nacional do Zimpeto Referee: Lebalang Mokete (Lesotho)

6 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group A	Eswatini	3–1	Lesotho	showPort Elizabeth, South Africa
17:00 UTC+2	30' F. Badenhorst 42' 57' 66' F. Mamba 45' 78'	Report	J. Thabantso 7' T. Khutlang 45+4' 72'	Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)

8 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group A	South Africa	1–0	Eswatini	showPort Elizabeth, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2	S. Mkhulise 42' 59' 88'	Report	F. Mamba 26' F. Badenhorst 26' 45+1'	Stadium: Wolfson Stadium Referee: Wilson Julio Muianga (Mozambique)

10 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group A	Zambia	0–1	Eswatini	showPort Elizabeth
15:00 UTC+2	K. Chongo 19' Z. Chilongoshi 61' 65' K. Kampamba 68' S. Silwimba 86'	Report	51' 53' 56' 57' 76' F. Mamba 84'	Stadium: Wolfson Stadium Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)

14 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group A	Eswatini	1–1	Botswana	showPort Elizabeth, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2	Ndzinisa 19' 34' 69' 71'	Report	45+1', 65' 89'	Stadium: Wolfson Stadium Referee: Audrick Nkole (Zambia)

16 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Semi-final	Senegal	2–2 (3–0 p)	Eswatini	showPort Elizabeth, South Africa
14:00 UTC+2	58' M. Ndiaye 71' 80'	Report	11' 15' S. Ndzinisa 20' F. Mamba 63' 67'	Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: Osiase Koto (Lesotho)
	Penalties
			S. Ndzinisa

18 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Third place match	Eswatini	1–1 (4–2 p)	Mozambique	showPort Elizabeth, South Africa
12:00 UTC+2	42' 89'	Report	4' S. Nangy 14' 15' 39'	Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)
	Penalties
			S. Nangy

Players[]

Current squad[]

The following players were called up for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification against Guinea Bissau and Senegal on 26 and 30 March 2021.^[5]
Caps and goals are correct as of 25 March 2021.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK		(1989-10-19) 19 October 1989 (age 31)	2	0	Royal Leopards
1GK		(1989-09-09) 9 September 1989 (age 32)	19	0	Mbabane Swallows
1GK		(1993-09-23) 23 September 1993 (age 27)	1	0	Mbabane Highlanders

2DF	Siboniso Mamba	(1991-02-24) 24 February 1991 (age 30)	19	2	Young Buffaloes
2DF		(1991-04-10) 10 April 1991 (age 30)	21	0	Young Buffaloes
2DF		(1989-09-28) 28 September 1989 (age 31)	2	0	Young Buffaloes
2DF		(1997-08-19) 19 August 1997 (age 24)	1	0	Royal Leopards
2DF		(1990-02-11) 11 February 1990 (age 31)	4	0	Green Mamba

3MF		(1994-12-03) 3 December 1994 (age 26)	15	2	Young Buffaloes
3MF		(1993-04-21) 21 April 1993 (age 28)	5	0	Royal Leopards
3MF		(1993-05-14) 14 May 1993 (age 28)	16	1	Royal Leopards
3MF		(1994-05-03) 3 May 1994 (age 27)	14	0	Young Buffaloes
3MF		(1991-11-18) 18 November 1991 (age 29)	9	0	Young Buffaloes
3MF		(1990-02-02) 2 February 1990 (age 31)	1	0	Green Mamba

4FW		(1990-01-20) 20 January 1990 (age 31)	10	0	Young Buffaloes
4FW	Sidumo Dlamini	Unknown	2	0	Royal Leopards
4FW	Fanelo Mamba	(2001-10-29) 29 October 2001 (age 19)	13	1	Young Buffaloes
4FW	Sabelo Ndzinisa	(1991-07-31) 31 July 1991 (age 30)	36	7	Mbabane Highlanders
4FW			0	0	Mbabane Swallows
4FW	Muzi Tsabedze	(1998-09-23) 23 September 1998 (age 22)	1	0	Manzini Sea Birds

Recent call-ups[]

The following players were called up for Congo in the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK		(1986-11-11) 11 November 1986 (age 34)	30	0	Young Buffaloes	v. Congo, 16 November 2020

DF		(1989-02-18) 18 February 1989 (age 32)	11	0	Royal Leopards	v. Congo, 16 November 2020
DF		(1991-02-24) 24 February 1991 (age 30)	5	0	Young Buffaloes	v. Congo, 16 November 2020

MF	Felix Badenhorst	(1989-06-12) 12 June 1989 (age 32)	35	13	TS Galaxy	v. Congo, 16 November 2020
MF		(1993-12-26) 26 December 1993 (age 27)	22	1	Mbabane Highlanders	v. Congo, 16 November 2020

FW		(1990-11-20) 20 November 1990 (age 30)	10	1	Royal Leopards	v. Congo, 16 November 2020

Player records[]

As of 18 July 2021

Players in bold are still active with Eswatini.

Most appearances
Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Tony Tsabedze	71	8	2003–2018
2	Mxolisi Mthethwa	52	3	1998–2010
3		48	5	2001–2018
4		44	1	2011–present
5	Sabelo Ndzinisa	43	9	2012–present
6	Dennis Masina	42	2	1999–2011
7	Felix Badenhorst	41	15	2008–present
8	Siza Dlamini	39	9	1997–2010
8	Mxolisi Lukhele	39	1	2012–2017
10		38	1	2011–2018

Top goalscorers
Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Felix Badenhorst	15	41	0.37	2008–present
2	Mfanzile Dlamini	9	35	0.26	1998–2009
	Siza Dlamini	9	39	0.23	1997–2010
	Sabelo Ndzinisa	9	43	0.21	2012–present
5	Tony Tsabedze	8	71	0.11	2003–2018
6		5	48	0.1	2001–2018
7	Sidumo Shongwe	4	8	0.5	2011–2014
7	Sandile Hlatjwako	4	15	0.27	2014–2017
9	Mfanafuthi Bhembe	3	15	0.2	2005–2011
	Sibusiso Dlamini	3	20	0.15	1998–2007
		3	23	0.13	2018–present
	Phinda Dlamini	3	27	0.11	2008–present
	Mthunzi Mkhontfo	3	28	0.11	2011–present
	Mxolisi Mthethwa	3	52	0.06	1998–2010

Coaches[]

Ted Dumitru (1983–85)
Dumisa Mahlalela (1992–93)
(1996)
Jan Simulambo (1997)
Francis Banda (1998–2000)
Dumisa Mahlalela (2001–02)
(2003)
Francis Banda (2003)
Werner Bicklehaput (2003)
Dumisa Mahlalela (2004)
Francis Banda (2005)
Jan Van Winckel (2006)
Ayman El Yamani (2006–07)
(2007, caretaker)
Raoul Savoy (2007–08)
Ephraim Mashaba (2008–10)
(2010–11)
Obed Mlotsa (2011)
(2011–12, caretaker)
Valere Billen (2012–13)
Harris Bulunga (2013–14, caretaker)
Harris Bulunga (2014–16)
Anthony Mdluli (2017)
Hendrik Pieter de Jongh (2017–18)
Anthony Mdluli (2018, caretaker)
Kosta Papic (2018–2019)
Dominic Kunene (2020–)

References[]

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Mozambique vs. Eswatini - 18 July 2021 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
^ zana-arts Archived 2006-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Provisional List of Players for the Senior Men's National Team". Eswatini Football Association. Retrieved 25 March 2021.

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.

[2021_COSAFA_3rd_place_match-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Mozambique vs. Eswatini - 18 July 2021 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-3] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.

[4] zana-arts Archived 2006-09-25 at the Wayback Machine

[5] "Provisional List of Players for the Senior Men's National Team". Eswatini Football Association. Retrieved 25 March 2021.

[1]

[2]

[4]

[5]

show v t National football teams of Africa (CAF)
North Africa (UNAF)	Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Tunisia
West Africa (WAFU)	Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
East Africa (CECAFA)	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar¹
Central Africa (UNIFFAC)	Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe
Southern Africa (COSAFA)	Angola Botswana Comoros Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe
Non-regional Members	Réunion¹
¹ Associate member of CAF but not member of FIFA

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