MBABANE – Venue challenge looms!
The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) is once again haunted by a familiar logistical nightmare regarding the hosting of the upcoming TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) preliminary round.
Sihlangu is scheduled to go head-to-head with Eritrea for a spot in the group stages, with the back-to-back fixtures set for the late March FIFA international break. However, what should be straightforward preparation has turned into a major headache as the Somhlolo National Stadium continues to fall short of full international benchmarks.
There was a glimmer of hope at the start of the current campaign when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) granted the stadium a provisional licence last August. This allowed Nsingizini Hotspurs and Royal Leopard to host inter-club competitions at Lobamba and, subsequently, saw Sihlangu host Angola in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Just 11 days ago, the Minister for Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bongani Nzima, issued a statement informing the public and sports stakeholders that the local football ‘Mecca’ was finally available for booking. Nsingizini were the first to take advantage, hosting Zimbabwe’s Scottland FC in an international friendly on February 4. However, other local clubs have reportedly snubbed the venue due to the E10 000 booking fee.
Despite this local availability, well-placed sources within the EFA claim the chances of Eswatini hosting Eritrea at Somhlolo next month are slim to none.
“CAF does not allow senior national teams to play in these provisionally approved stadiums and unfortunately, the EFA’s temporary licence has also expired. There is virtually no chance the game will be played there and the EFA is already working on securing an alternative venue,” the source alleged.
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