MBABANE – The road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has hit an unexpected and volatile roadblock for Eswatini’s senior national team, Sihlangu SeMnikati.
What should be a straightforward preliminary qualifier against Eritrea has morphed into a logistical nightmare, as escalating conflict in the Middle East threatens the team’s safe passage to North Africa.
With Eritrea lacking an internationally approved stadium, the first leg of this crucial double-header, which scheduled between March 25 and 31, is set to be staged in Tunisia. However, for Sihlangu to reach the Mediterranean coast, they face a perilous transit through the Gulf.
Current regional instability has seen Iran launch retaliatory strikes against Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These nations serve as the primary aviation hubs for Eswatini’s travel. With no direct flights from South Africa to Tunisia, the squad must transit through Doha or Dubai. The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) now finds itself monitoring a geopolitical powder keg, as drone and missile threats over Persian Gulf airspace cast a long shadow over the fixture.
EFA Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe acknowledged the complexity of the situation, noting that while plans for Tunisia are in motion, a final resolution on travel logistics remains pending. “A statement regarding all logistics will be released upon consultation with the relevant office,” Radebe assured.
On the pitch, the stakes are equally high. This tie represents Eritrea’s return to competitive football after years of self-imposed exile sparked by fears of player defections. For Sihlangu, it is the essential first step toward a maiden AFCON appearance in the tournament to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Interim Coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane has already begun drilling a 23-man squad, dominated by domestic talent, in weekly training camps. Yet, as the players sharpen their tactics on the field, the EFA’s front office is locked in a race against time to ensure the team’s path to the group stages does not lead them directly into a war zone. The winner of this aggregate battle will progress to face Africa’s elite, provided they can first navigate the turbulence of global politics.
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