Eswatini reminded of King Mswati III AFCON mandate

Eswatini national team has received a big royal reminder ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) preliminary round qualifying matches against Eritrea.

Eswatini Football Association (EFA) president Peter Simelane has reminded the national team, popularly called Sihlangu SeMnikati or the king’s shield, on the mandate the kingdom nation’s King Mswati III set last year.

The Senior Men’s National Team (Sihlangu SeMnikati) is travelling to Morocco for the 1st leg of the TotalEnergies AFCON Preliminary Round Qualifier match against Eritrea. Some international players will join the squad in Johannesburg. pic.twitter.com/zQqW8Gzlc0

— EFA (@eswatinifa) March 22, 2026

“Last year, His Majesty expressed his desire to see the country qualify for a major international tournament like AFCON,” he said on Sunday during the team’s send-off ceremony.

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Therefore, with Sihlangu set to face Eritrea in Morocco on Wednesday, the EFA boss challenged the squad to make history by securing the AFCON qualification in honour of His Majesty’s 40th anniversary of sovereignty.

“It is time to make history in football. You must make us proud,” Simelane stressed ahead of the preliminary round first leg match.

The 14-member national team delegation left Eswatini on Monday and was joined by nine foreign-based players in Johannesburg, South Africa, before flying out to Morocco via Egypt.

Sihlangu SeMnikati will face Eritrea at the Meknes-Stade d’honner de Meknès at 1800hrs Southern African time.

The return match of the AFCON preliminary round qualifiers will take place at Somholo National Stadium on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

The overall winner between Eritrea and Eswatini will advance to the group-stage to join seeded teams.