JUNIOR RULED OUT OF BOTH 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GAMES

MBABANE – A significant setback!

The national team, Sihlangu, has suffered a considerable blow in the lead up to their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Cameroon on Wednesday at Mbombela Stadium. Kick-off is 6pm.

According to sources close to Sigwaca House, morale within the squad is notably low, compounded by a series of challenges. Adding to their woes, influential midfielder Junior ‘Shisa Gesi’ Magagula has been ruled out of the two crucial home matches. Following the clash with the Indomitable Lions in a day, Sihlangu will face Mauritius on Sunday in Nelspruit under the World Cup qualifiers banner. Kick-off is 3pm.

The source asserted that Head Coach Zdravko Logarusic had long advocated for the positions vacated by the former Assistant Coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane and Physical Trainer Dennis Fakudze to be filled. Logarusic has proposed Sandile Lulane, the Assistant Coach from Green Mamba and Mbabane Swallows Physical Trainer Siza Dlamini.

However, as of now, just two days before the match, neither has been appointed. The head coach had initially indicated a week ago that announcements regarding changes to the technical bench would be made by the end of last week, yet this has not materialised.

Currently, the head coach and Interim Coach Anthony Mdluli have been training the squad at Lobamba Technical Centre since Monday last week.

complete

The team is otherwise complete at training, with all international players(Lindo Mkhonta, Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze, Mxolisi Mkhonto) present except for Magagula, who is sidelined with a groin injury, and Justice Figuareido, the attacking midfielder from Premier Soccer League(PSL) side, Richards Bay, who is expected to join the camp today. Magagula has been instrumental in Sihlangu’s recent performances, notably scoring a brace in Eswatini’s 3-0 victory over Zimbabwe and netting the decisive goal against the Warriors in a 1-0 win that set up a date with Madagascar. Had Eswatini triumphed over Madagascar last December, they could have secured a place in the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN); however, they fell short, losing 2-1 on aggregate.

When reached for comment, Muzi Radebe, Marketing and Communications Officer for the Eswatini Football Association (EFA), confirmed that Magagula would indeed miss both World Cup qualifiers due to an injury and that no replacements had been made for the two technical bench officials released last Saturday.

“It is true that Magagula will miss both World Cup qualifier games due to injury. As for the full squad, we have everyone at camp except for Figuareido, who is likely to join the team today,” he stated.

When enquired about the replacement of the two officials, he noted he had yet to consult with his superiors but confirmed that, at present, there had been no changes to the technical bench.

Sihlangu currently languishes at the bottom of Group D with zero points after four matches. They have suffered defeats of 2-1 to Mauritius, 1-0 to Angola, 1-0 to Libya and 2-0 to Cape Verde. In each group, the winners qualify outright, while the runners-up could potentially advance to a playoff round, depending on their ranking among the other second-placed teams across the nine qualifying groups. Cameroon, who boast of a European based strong squad headline by Manchester United’s Andre Onana, currently leads  Group D with eight points after four games, closely followed by Libya and Cape Verde, who are tied on seven points, with Libya ahead on goal difference.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to take place across three nations: the United States of America (USA), Canada, and Mexico.

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