Eswatini national football team

The team played its first international match against Malawi, winning 2–0.[4] 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.

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.

The following players were called up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification against Somalia on 23 and 27 March 2022.[5]

Caps and goals are correct as of 27 March 2022, after the match against Somalia.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Mathabela Sandanezwe	(1989-09-09) 9 September 1989	27	0	Mbabane Swallows
	1GK	Khanyakwezwe Shabalala	(1993-09-23) 23 September 1993	1	0	Mbabane Highlanders
	2DF	Siboniso Mamba	(1991-02-24) 24 February 1991	31	2	Young Buffaloes
	2DF	Sihlangu Mkhwanazi	(1989-09-28) 28 September 1989	14	0	Young Buffaloes
	2DF	Mlamuli Msibi	(1997-08-19) 19 August 1997	6	0	Royal Leopards
	2DF	Mxolisi Manana	(1994-01-31) 31 January 1994	0	0	Green Mamba
	2DF	Simphiwe Manana	(1993-07-06) 6 July 1993	0	0	Mbabane Highlanders
	2DF	Kwakhe Thwala	(2002-04-04) 4 April 2002	2	0	Young Buffaloes
	3MF	Sifiso Matse	(1993-05-14) 14 May 1993	25	3	Royal Leopards
	3MF	Mzwandile Mabelesa	(1993-04-21) 21 April 1993	16	0	Royal Leopards
	3MF	Khethokuhle Mkhontfo	(1993-03-28) 28 March 1993	8	2	Green Mamba
	3MF	Junior Magagula	(1995-01-12) 12 January 1995	6	0	Royal Leopards
	3MF	Mpendulo Dlamini	(1993-06-26) 26 June 1993	0	0	Young Buffaloes
	3MF	Neliso Dlamini	(2002-12-28) 28 December 2002	0	0	Manzini Wanderers
	3MF	Philane Mkhontfo	(1995-04-04) 4 April 1995	1	0	Mbabane Highlanders
	4FW	Sabelo Ndzinisa	(1991-07-31) 31 July 1991	47	10	Mbabane Highlanders
	3MF	Sandile Gamedze	(1994-12-03) 3 December 1994	27	5	Young Buffaloes
	4FW	Fanelo Mamba	(2001-10-29) 29 October 2001	21	4	Young Buffaloes
	4FW	Bonginkosi Dlamini	(1990-11-20) 20 November 1990	13	2	Sagrada Esperança
	4FW	Justice Figuareido	(1998-07-28) 28 July 1998	12	0	Cape Town All Stars
	4FW	Muzi Tsabedze	(1998-09-23) 23 September 1998	3	0	Manzini Sea Birds
	4FW	Mthokozisi Gwebu	(1994-06-30) 30 June 1994	0	0	Manzini Sea Birds

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

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Ncamiso Dlamini	(1989-10-19) 19 October 1989	2	0	Royal Leopards	2021 COSAFA Cup
DF	Lindo Mkhonta	(1991-04-10) 10 April 1991	30	0	Young Buffaloes	v.  Somalia; 23 March 2022 PRE
DF	Sanele Tshawuka	(1990-02-11) 11 February 1990	4	0	Green Mamba	2021 COSAFA Cup
MF	Wandile Shabangu	(1991-11-18) 18 November 1991	9	0	Young Buffaloes	2021 COSAFA Cup
MF	Siboniso Ngwenya	(1994-05-03) 3 May 1994	14	0	Young Buffaloes	v.  Senegal; 30 March 2021
FW	Nhlanhla Ngwenya		0	0	Mbabane Swallows	v.  Somalia; 23 March 2022 PRE
FW	Phiwayinkhosi Dlamini	(1990-01-20) 20 January 1990	10	0	Young Buffaloes	2021 COSAFA Cup
FW	Njabulo Thwala	(1990-02-02) 2 February 1990	1	0	Green Mamba	2021 COSAFA Cup
FW	Sidumo Dlamini	Unknown	2	0	Royal Leopards	v.  Senegal; 30 March 2021