Eswatini national football team

The Eswatini national football team, nicknamed Sihlangu Semnikati (King's Shield),[2] 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.

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 (13)
Home stadium	Somhlolo National Stadium
FIFA code	SWZ
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	153 (10 December 2020)[1]
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)

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										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
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 an FIFA member									Not an 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	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1998	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1999	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2000	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2001	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2002	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2003	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2004	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2005	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2006	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2007	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2008	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2009	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2015	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2016	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2017	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2018	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2019	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	0/19	-	-	-	-	-	-

Recent results

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	Brazzaville, Congo
17:00 UTC+1	Ibara  77' Makiesse  81'	Report		Stadium: Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat Referee: Joseph Odey Ogabor (Nigeria)

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

Players

Current squad

• The following players were called up for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification against Congo on 12 and 16 November 2020.
• Caps and goals are correct as of 16 November 2020, after the match against Congo.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	GK	Nhlanhla Gwebu	11 November 1986	30	0	Young Buffaloes
16	GK	Mathabela Sandanezwe	9 September 1989	19	0	Mbabane Swallows
2	DF	Wandile Maseko	24 February 1991	5	0	Young Buffaloes
5	DF	Siboniso Mamba	24 February 1991	19	2	Young Buffaloes
12	DF	Sikhumbuzo Ntimane	18 February 1989	11	0	Royal Leopards
15	DF	Sihlangu Mkhwanazi	28 September 1989	2	0	Young Buffaloes
17	DF	Mlamuli Msibi	19 August 1997	1	0	Royal Leopards
20	DF	Sanele Tshawuka	11 February 1990	4	0	Green Mamba
4	MF	Sandile Gamedze	3 December 1994	15	2	Young Buffaloes
7	MF	Felix Badenhorst	12 June 1989	35	13	TS Galaxy
9	MF	Nhlanhla Ngwenya		0	0	Mbabane Swallows
10	MF	Wandile Shabangu	18 November 1991	9	0	Young Buffaloes
11	MF	Njabulo Thwala	2 February 1990	1	0	Green Mamba
14	MF	Mzwandile Mabelesa	21 April 1993	5	0	Royal Leopards
18	MF	Sibonginkhosi Gamedze	26 December 1993	22	1	Mbabane Highlanders
19	MF	Lindo Mkhonta (Captain)	10 April 1991	21	0	Young Buffaloes
21	MF	Sifiso Matse	14 May 1993	17	0	Royal Leopards
3	FW	Phiwayinkhosi Dlamini	20 January 1990	10	0	Young Buffaloes
8	FW	Fanelo Mamba	29 October 2001	13	1	Young Buffaloes
13	FW	Bonginkosi Dlamini	20 November 1990	10	1	Royal Leopards

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	Ncamiso Dlamini	19 October 1989	2	0	Royal Leopards	v.  Congo, 12 November 2020
MF	Siboniso Ngwenya	3 May 1994	14	0	Young Buffaloes	v.  Congo, 12 November 2020
FW	Muzi Tsabedze	23 September 1998	1	0	Manzini Sea Birds	v.  Congo, 12 November 2020

Records

As of 11 November 2020[3]

  Still active players are highlighted

Most appearances # Player Career Caps Goals 1 Tony Tsabedze 2003–2018 71 8 2 Mxolisi Mthethwa 1998–2010 52 3 3 Wonder Nhleko 2001–2018 48 5 4 Machawe Dlamini 2011– 44 1 5 Dennis Masina 1999–2011 42 2 6 Siza Dlamini 1997–2010 39 9 Mxolisi Lukhele 2012–2017 39 1 8 Zweli Mandla Nxumalo 2011–2018 38 1 9 Njabulo Ndlovu 2011– 37 1 10 Sabelo Ndzinisa 2012– 36 7

Top goalscorers # Player Career Goals Caps Goals/game 1 Felix Badenhorst 2008– 13 34 0.38 2 Mfanzile Dlamini 1998–2009 9 35 0.26 Siza Dlamini 1997–2010 9 39 0.23 4 Tony Tsabedze 2003–2018 8 71 0.11 5 Sabelo Ndzinisa 2012– 7 36 0.19 6 Wonder Nhleko 2001–2018 5 48 0.1 7 Sidumo Shongwe 2011–2014 4 8 0.5 Sandile Hlatjwako 2014–2017 4 15 0.27 9 Mfanafuthi Bhembe 2005–2011 3 15 0.2 Sibusiso Dlamini 1998–2007 3 20 0.15 Phinda Dlamini 2008– 3 27 0.11 Mthunzi Mkhontfo 2011– 3 28 0.11 Mxolisi Mthethwa 1998–2010 3 52 0.06

Coaches

• 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, caretaker)
• Raoul Savoy (2007–08)
• Ephraim Mashaba (2008–10)
• Musa Zwane (2010–11)
• Obed Mlotsa (2011)
• Caleb Ngwenya (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

1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
2. zana-arts Archived 2006-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
3. "Eswatini - Record International Players". national-football-teams.com.