The Eswatini national football team, nicknamed Sihlangu Semnikati (King's Shield),zana-arts 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. Eswatini's best performance in an international tournament is a third place finish in the 2016 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.
History
Beginnings
The team played its first international match against Malawi, winning 2–0. For the first decade, the national team only played Malawi and Zambia, failing to register a single win from 1969 until 1984, when they beat Lesotho 3–1 in a friendly at home. Following the Lesotho win, Eswatini entered the 1986 African Cup of Nations qualifiers for the first time, losing 1–8 on aggregate to Zimbabwe. The team then entered the 1987 All-Africa Games qualifiers however they lost 2–9 on aggregate against Malawi.
The first time that Eswatini progressed past the first round of a qualifying competition was for the 1990 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, beating Tanzania 3–1 on penalties after drawing the tie 2–2. In the second round they faced Malawi who knocked them out again, 1–3 after two legs. Eswatini next entered the 1990 SADCC Tournament, advancing past the group stage on goal difference ahead of Malawi, before losing to Zimbabwe on penalties (5–3) in the semi-finals following a 4–4 draw after extra-time. In the 1992 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, Eswatini beat Zambia (2–1) during the preliminary group stage but finished in third and failed to progress.
Eswatini entered the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time, but ended up in second place behind Cameroon thereby not advancing to the final round. For the 1998 World Cup first qualification round, Eswatini lost twice to Gabon (0–1 and 0–2) and were eliminated. They failed to make it past the first qualifying round for the inaugural 1997 COSAFA Cup, where they lost 0–4 to Mozambique, and in the 1998 COSAFA Cup where they lost to an own-goal in extra-time against Angola (0–1). Eswatini returned to the 2000 African Cup of Nations qualification matches after missing the previous three tournaments but they fell 2–3 against Madagascar and were eliminated. They managed to qualify for the 1999 COSAFA Cup after beating Mozambique 3–1 in the qualifiers, then beat Zimbabwe in the quarter-finals 4–3 on penalties after drawing 1–1 in regular time, with Bongani Mdluli having scored the equaliser for Eswatini in the 89th minute. In the semi-finals they lost to Namibia on penalties, 2–4.
21st century
Eswatini were eliminated by Angola in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, losing 1–8 on aggregate. They then lost to Kenya in the 2002 African Cup of Nations qualification round 3–5. Their next success in a competition came in the 2002 COSAFA Cup where they qualified ahead of Namibia (2–1) and beat Zimbabwe (2–0) to advance to the semis. There they lost to South Africa (1–4) who would go on to win the tournament. In the 2004 AFCON qualifiers, Eswatini finished third in their group, two points behind Libya and three behind DR Congo therefore missing out on qualification.
In the following tournaments, Eswatini failed to progress past the first qualifying round. They finished bottom of their qualifying groups until 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification where they finished in second on goal-difference ahead of Guinea but were three points off of qualifying, behind Zimbabwe. In the 2018 World Cup qualifying, Eswatini thrashed Djibouti 8–1 over two legs, but were beaten 0–2 by Nigeria to end their hopes of qualification.
Results and fixtures The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2025
2026
Coaches Caretakers are listed in italics.
Ted Dumitru (1983–85) Dumisa Mahlalela (1992–93) Scara Thindwa (1996) Jan Simulambo (1997) Francis Banda (1998–2000) Dumisa Mahlalela (2001–02) Mandla Dlamini (2003) Francis Banda (2003) Werner Bicklehaput (2003) Dumisa Mahlalela (2004) Francis Banda (2005) Jan Van Winckel (2006) Ayman El Yamani (2006–07) Martin Chabangu (2007) Raoul Savoy (2007–08) Ephraim Mashaba (2008–10) Musa Zwane (2010–11) Obed Mlotsa (2011) Caleb Ngwenya (2011–12) Valere Billen (2012–13) Harris Bulunga (2013–14) Harris Bulunga (2014–16) Anthony Mdluli (2017) Hendrik Pieter de Jongh (2017–18) Anthony Mdluli (2018) Kosta Papić (2018–19) Dominic Kunene (2020–22) Dominic Kunene (2023–24) Zdravko Logarušić (2024–25) Sifiso Ntibane (2024–25)
Players
Current squad The following players were called up for the 2025 COSAFA Cup to be played 4–15 June 2025.
Caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2025, after the match against Madagascar
a
Recent call-ups The following players were called up for Eswatini in the last 12 months.
Player records
Players in bold are still active with Eswatini.
Most appearances
RankPlayerCapsGoalsCareer1Sabelo Ndzinisa78172012–present2Tony Tsabedze7182003–20183Sifiso Matse5852017–present4Mxolisi Mthethwa5231998–20105Lindo Mkhonta4812018–presentWonder Nhleko4852001–2018Felix Badenhorst48152008–present8Fanelo Mamba4662018–present9Machawe Dlamini4412011–2019Sandile Gamedze4482018–present
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioCareer1Sabelo Ndzinisa17782012–present2Felix Badenhorst15482008–present3Mfanzile Dlamini9351998–2009Siza Dlamini9391997–20105Sandile Gamedze8442018–presentTony Tsabedze8712003–20187Fanelo Mamba6462018–present8Wonder Nhleko5482001–2018Sifiso Matse5582017–present10Sidumo Shongwe482011–2014Sandile Hlatjwako4152014–2017Junior Magagula4242019–presentPhilani Mkhontfo4282022–present
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup Winners Runners-up Third place
FIFA World Cup record Qualification record Year Host Round Squad 1930 to 1966 Part of the United Kingdom Part of the United Kingdom as Swaziland as Swaziland 1970 to 1978 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member 1982 to 1990 Did not enter Did not enter 1994 Did not qualify 2nd311115 1998 —200203 2002 —200218 2006 —201114 2010 3rd411228 2014 —200228 2018 —421183 as Eswatini as Eswatini 2022 Did not qualify —201112 2026 6th10037619 2030 To be determined To be determined Total 000000 — 3148192260
Africa Cup of Nations Winners Runners-up Third place
Africa Cup of Nations record Qualification record Year Host Round Squad 1957 to 1968 Part of the United Kingdom Part of the United Kingdom as Swaziland as Swaziland 1970 to 1976 Not a CAF member Not a CAF member 1978 to 1982 Did not enter Did not enter 1984 Withdrew Withdrew 1986 Did not qualify —200218 1988 Withdrew Withdrew 1990 Did not qualify —403135 1992 3rd512249 1994 Did not enter Did not enter 1996 Withdrew Withdrew 1998 Did not enter Did not enter 2000 Did not qualify —201123 2002 —210135 2004 3rd6222812 2006 —201114 2008 4th603307 2010 3rd411228 2012 4th6006214 2013 Withdrew Withdrew 2015 Did not qualify —201112 2017 2nd622255 as Eswatini as Eswatini 2019 Did not qualify 4th6015214 2021 4th6024313 2023 4th823389 2025 4th8134715 2027 To be determined To be determined Total 000000 — 7510254052133
COSAFA Cup Winners Runners-up Third place
COSAFA Cup record Qualification record Year Host Round Squad as Swaziland as Swaziland 1997 Did not qualify —100104 1998 —100101 1999 Semi-finals202022 Squad —110031 2000 Quarter-finals100102 Squad No qualification 2001 Quarter-finals201112 Squad 2002 Semi-finals320155 Squad 2003 Quarter-finals210122 Squad 2004 Quarter-finals100105 Squad 2005 Group stage100103 Squad 2006 Group stage210121 Squad 2007 Group stage211010 Squad 2008 Group stage312032 Squad 2009 Group stage320152 Squad 2013 Group stage301204 Squad 2015 Group stage321041 Squad 2016 Third place632197 Squad 2017 Semi-finals210122 Squad 2018 Quarter-finals200203 Squad as Eswatini as Eswatini 2019 Group stage202044 Squad No qualification 2021 Third place623186 Squad 2022 Quarter-finals522174 Squad 2023 Group stage310234 Squad 2024 Group stage302101 Squad 2025 Group stage201123 Squad Total 591920206065 — 310236
Honours Regional COSAFA Cup Third place (2): 2016, 2021
References
External links Eswatini at CAF Eswatini at FIFA