MBABANE – Eswatini’s Under-23 national team face a stern test against Malawi, as they begin their high-stakes journey towards continental qualification and the Olympic stage.
Led by Coach Friday Myeni, the squad departed for Malawi on Saturday ahead of the Under-23 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) first leg at the Bingu National Stadium this afternoon, Tuesday, September 29, 2026, kicking off at 3 pm.
These qualifiers also serve as the pathway to the 2028 Summer Olympics (LA28), which will take place in Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA), from July 14 to July 30, 2028. The AFCON final tournament will be held in Egypt in late 2027, serving as the ultimate qualification stage for the Games after being confirmed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Speaking at the team’s farewell event held at the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Technical Centre in Lobamba on Saturday, September 26, 2026, the Manzini Sea Birds mentor made it clear that his side travelled to Lilongwe with victory on their minds. Rather than adopting a cautious, defensive approach on foreign soil, Myeni stressed that his players would take the game directly to the hosts.
Myeni told the gathering that their mission was crystal clear and that they were there to make the nation proud. He added that they had prepared themselves not merely to sit back and defend, but to push forward and find the back of the net so they could make the return leg more manageable.
The Junior Flames of Malawi, guided by Head Coach Bob Mpinganjira, enter the two-legged tie boasting a strengthened selection. The hosts have been boosted by the return of several players who recently served with the senior national team, alongside emerging talent, presenting a formidable obstacle for the visitors in front of a home crowd at Bingu National Stadium.
Myeni, who is assisted by MulaSport National First Division (NFD) giants Manzini Wanderers Head Coach Musa Manyatsi, emphasised that his squad, drawn from the MTN Premier League, NFD, Regional Super Leagues and school structures, possesses the attacking quality required to carve out an early advantage.
He will pin his hopes on the Nsingizini Hotspurs duo of Captain Luyanda Nhlengetfwa and striker Njongo ‘Jakalazi’ Mazibuko, alongside Manzini Wanderers’ Malwande Gwebu, to steer the team towards maximum points.
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