MBABANE – Eswatini had 89 foreign players plying their trade across the country’s football structures last year.
The figure is contained in the Eswatini Football Association annual report for the year that ended on December 31, 2025. It covers imports registered in the MTN Premier League, the now MulaSports National First Division, the Women’s National Football League and the four regional associations.
The MTN Premier League accounted for the largest share with 49 foreign players, followed by the National First Division with 16. Half of the 16 Premier League clubs used their full quota of five foreign players. These sides were:
• Ezulwini United
• Malanti Chiefs
• Manzini Wanderers
• Nsingizini Hotspurs
• Ubombo Sugar
• Moneni Pirates
• Mbabane Highlanders
• Celtics.
Meanwhile, Mbabane Swallows and Mbabane Black Eagles, formerly Amawele registered four foreign players.
Royal Leopard and Sisonkhe each registered one, and only Rangers and Young Buffaloes played without any imported talent. Furthermore, eight clubs in the lower division also had foreign players with the other half have zero foreign polayers.
Among the regions, Hhohho ranked highest with nine imports, followed by Manzini with six. The women’s league featured five international players, while Lubombo and Shiselweni each recorded two.
The report also states that 10 local players were exported during the period, with one international return recorded.
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