ESWATINI U23 TAKE VITAL AWAY WIN OVER MALAWI IN CAF QUALIFIER

The Eswatini U23 Men’s National Team secured a vital 1–0 away victory over Malawi in the first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Tuesday, 29 September 2026.

After a tightly contested opening half, the two sides went into the break level at 0–0, with neither team able to create a clear-cut opportunity.

Eswatini eventually broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute when Sibonelo Vilakati produced a composed finish from the edge of the area to give the visitors a precious lead.

The young Sihlangu then showed discipline and resilience in the closing stages, protecting their advantage and securing a valuable clean sheet on the road.

The victory delivers the positive first-leg result targeted by Head Coach Friday Myeni and his technical team. Before departure, Myeni had emphasised the importance of being defensively organised while also looking to score, declaring that the team had “prepared not to concede, but to score.”

With the first leg now secured, Eswatini will turn its attention to the return fixture, where the team will look to complete the job on home soil.

The second leg will be played at Somhlolo National Stadium on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, at 15:00 hrs. The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to face Algeria in the next round.

The Eswatini Football Association congratulates the players, technical team and support staff on a disciplined away performance and calls on emaSwati to come out in numbers and fill Somhlolo National Stadium next Tuesday as the U23 Sihlangu seek to finish the assignment on home soil.