MBABANE – With their European adventure gathering momentum, Sihlangu are set for another international examination against higher-ranked opposition when they face Suriname on Sunday.
The national team will take on the South American side in their second friendly match of the European tour, following their historic encounter against Malta. The players are expected to travel from Malta via Germany before arriving in the Netherlands.
The match is scheduled for 7pm local time at Stadion De Vliert in ’s-Hertogenbosch, according to reports published by Suriname-based Sun News.
Ranked 128th in the latest FIFA rankings, Suriname will provide a stern test for Eswatini, who occupy 164th position. The 36-place gap between the two nations adds further significance to the encounter as Sihlangu seek to measure themselves against international opposition, beyond the African continent.
Suriname is a sovereign country on the northern coast of South America, known as the smallest independent nation on the continent by both area and population. Suriname has a population of roughly 640 000.
The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said on Wednesday evening that the identity of Sihlangu’s next opponents would be announced following approval from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). He had said on Monday that logistics would be finalised on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, EFA Marketing and Communications Manager Muzi ‘Rhoo’ Radebe said yesterday that no official communication regarding the opponents had reached his office.
“Nothing has reached my office yet. However, maybe it is possible to have details tomorrow,” he said.
Like Sihlangu, the Green Guardians were also scheduled to play an international friendly against Lithuania yesterday in Kaunas. However, both matches were still pending at the time of compiling this report.
The fixtures reportedly form part of Suriname head coach Henk Fraser’s preparations for the country’s upcoming international commitments.
Meanwhile, Sihlangu made history by facing Malta in their first-ever European international friendly at the Malta National Stadium in Ta’ Qali. Eswatini has now joined a growing list of African nations testing themselves against overseas opposition during international breaks. Last month, Benin faced Argentina.
Tickets for the main enclosure at Sunday’s match are priced at €10 (approximately E184), according to information published on Suriname’s national team’s official Facebook platform.
The admission fee is considerably higher than what local football supporters pay in Eswatini, where Premier League tickets typically cost up to E60.
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, Suriname is among the smallest countries in South America, although it boasts one of the region’s most ethnically diverse populations. Its economy relies heavily on natural resources, particularly bauxite.
On the football front, Suriname finished second with nine points during the previous FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. They also finished third in their Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League Group B section.
