MBABANE – Sihlangu Semnikati will close out the 2025 calendar year in a position of sombre reflection, as the national team once again finds itself languishing outside the prestigious top 100 in the FIFA World Rankings.
According to the latest global standings released on December 22, 2025, Eswatini remained stagnant, having been inactive during the final International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) break of the year.
The ranking follows a difficult end to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign last month. The Lindo Mkhonta-captained troops suffered a bruising 3-0 defeat away to Cape Verde, which followed a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Angola at the Somhlolo National Stadium.
While Sihlangu reached a high of 134th in 2018, recent years have told a story of regression. Despite a brief climb to 148th that suggested progress, the team has since slid down the ladder, currently occupying the 159th spot globally and 46th in Africa. This mirrors the position the squad held in the previous charts, marking a full year of stagnation after also finishing 2024 outside the top 100.
The implications of these rankings extend beyond pride. Higher-ranked teams benefit from better seeding during major tournament draws, often allowing them to bypass treacherous preliminary rounds.
Interim Head Coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane recently acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stressing that every international fixture matters for the nation’s coefficient.
“Rankings are very important; that is why it is vital to secure good results even after failing to qualify for a tournament,” Ntibane said.
On the global stage, Spain remains at the summit of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking. In the Confederation of African Football (CAF) zone, Morocco continues to lead the way as the continent’s top-ranked side.
The next FIFA rankings will be released on January 19, 2026.
Sihlangu’s Five-Year Ranking Trend
Year Final FIFA Ranking Status
2021 146 Stable
2022 141 Slight Climb
2023 149 Slump
2024 152 Outside Top 150
2025 155 Year-End Low
Leave a comment