MBABANE, Eswatini – While the powerhouses of African football celebrate massive leaps following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Eswatini’s national team begin 2026 rooted in the lower tiers of the global stage.
According to the first FIFA World Rankings of the year, released this Monday, the team known as Sihlangu Semnikati remain stuck at 159th globally, ending a stagnant 12-month period for the squad.
The latest rankings reflect a dramatic shift at the top of the continent following Senegal’s recent championship victory over Morocco. While the Teranga Lions surged to 12th in the world and Morocco broke into the global top 10, Eswatini’s lack of participation in the tournament left them trailing at 46th within Africa. This stagnation has forced the nation into the difficult preliminary phases of future competitions rather than earning a direct path to the group stages.
A potential lifeline for the currently coachless side arrives this March in the TotalEnergies AFCON 2027 preliminary round. Sihlangu have been drawn against Eritrea, a side who have been competitively inactive for several years. This two-legged play-off, scheduled between March 25 and 31, represents a critical opportunity for Eswatini to secure the ranking points necessary to escape their current slump and return towards their 2018 peak of 134th.
The upcoming matches are vital for more than just tournament qualification. Higher FIFA rankings offer superior seeding in major draws, helping teams avoid these high-stakes early play-offs. With the first leg hosted by Eritrea and the decider set for Eswatini, the nation awaits a crucial window which will determine its footballing trajectory before the next FIFA data release on April 1.
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