U23s READY FOR ALGERIA TEST AS MYENI CALLS FOR HOME SUPPORT

The Eswatini U23 National Team is counting down to a crucial encounter against Algeria U23 as the two sides prepare to meet in the first leg of the second round of the TotalEnergies CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers 2027.

The match is scheduled for Wednesday, 11 November 2026, at Somhlolo National Stadium, with kick-off set for 4:00 p.m. Admission is free, but supporters are required to secure their complimentary tickets through the Carrot Ticketing platform (www.carrottickets.com).

Speaking during the Matchday -1 press conference, Head Coach Friday Myeni expressed his appreciation to Emaswati for the support they showed the team during the previous qualifying round against Malawi, where Eswatini secured a 2-1 aggregate victory to progress to the second round.

Myeni said preparations for the Algeria encounter had gone well despite a few challenges, particularly with some players having to balance their national team commitments with their final examinations.

“We had a few challenges because some of our players are still writing their final examinations. However, we managed to work around their schedules. They would study in camp, go to school to write their examinations and return to join the rest of the squad,” said Myeni.

The coach added that the players’ morale remained high, with the squad physically and mentally prepared for the challenge. He also highlighted the mental health sessions organised by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) in partnership with UNICEF, saying they had played an important role in preparing the players for the demands of the encounter.

Myeni further credited the international practice matches organised by the EFA in Mozambique for providing valuable preparation and giving the technical team an opportunity to assess the squad ahead of the qualifiers.

“We are well prepared and tactically balanced. We have also had an opportunity to watch Algeria’s matches, analyse their game and identify areas where we can exploit their weaknesses,” said Myeni.

Meanwhile, Vice-Captain Sive Dlamini echoed the coach’s confidence, assuring the nation that the players were ready to take on the North African opposition. Dlamini drew parallels between the upcoming encounter and their previous assignment against Malawi, explaining that the team had also faced an unfamiliar opponent in the first round but managed to overcome the challenge.

“We played Malawi in the first round. We did not know much about them, and we had never played against them before. Now we are facing Algeria, another team we have never played against, but one thing I can assure the nation is that we are going there to fight for a win. Just as we defeated Malawi, we believe we can do the same against Algeria,” said Dlamini.

The focus now shifts to Wednesday’s crucial encounter, with the young Sihlangu side looking to make home advantage count. The team has called on Emaswati to come out in their numbers and rally behind the players as they take on one of Africa’s footballing giants.

A positive result in the first leg would place Eswatini in a favourable position ahead of the return fixture in Algeria next week. The stage is set, the team is ready, and the support of the nation could provide the extra motivation needed as the U23 National Team continues its journey towards the TotalEnergies CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations 2027.