ESWATINI eFOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAM ENDS FIFAe NATIONS LEAGUE CAMPAIGN WITH VALUABLE CONTINENTAL EXPERIENCE
The Eswatini eFootball National Team has concluded its participation in the FIFAe Nations League 2026 Qualifiers after an encouraging campaign that showcased the country’s growing competitiveness on the African eFootball stage.
Although the team narrowly missed qualification for the inaugural FIFAe Continental Championship, their performances across the three qualification weeks demonstrated significant progress and highlighted the continued development of eFootball in Eswatini.
Eswatini finished 15th in the overall consistency rankings after competing against some of Africa’s strongest eFootball nations in the highly competitive 2v2 qualification format.
The campaign began positively in Week 1, with Eswatini advancing from Group D after registering one victory, two draws, and one defeat. Their impressive group-stage performance earned them a place in the Round of 16, where they were eliminated by Morocco.
Week 2 proved considerably more challenging as Eswatini was drawn into the group of death comprising Senegal, South Africa, Somalia, Seychelles, and Congo DR; which was too much for Eswatini.
The team’s best performance came during Week 3, held from 7–9 July 2026. Eswatini produced an excellent group-stage display, recording four wins and one draw from five matches to finish second in their group and qualify for the knockout phase.
Their qualification hopes were ultimately ended by a formidable Senegal side, which claimed an 8-0 aggregate victory over two matches. Eswatini was then afforded another opportunity through the Losers’ Quarter-finals but was defeated 6-0 on aggregate by Tanzania, bringing the nation’s FIFAe Nations League journey to a close.
Week 3 Knockout Results
Knockout Stage
- Senegal 3–0 Eswatini
- Eswatini 0–5 Senegal
Senegal advanced with an 8-0 aggregate victory.
Losers’ Quarter-finals
- Tanzania 3–0 Eswatini
- Eswatini 0–3 Tanzania
Tanzania advanced with a 6-0 aggregate victory.
Representing the Kingdom were Siyagcinwa Zulu, Seneme Khumalo, Cedusizi Nkambule, and Mzwakhile Gujam, who displayed commitment and professionalism throughout the competition while gaining invaluable experience against the continent’s elite eFootball players.
Speaking on the campaign, Eswatini Football Association Marketing and Communications Manager Muzi Radebe commended the team’s dedication and emphasised the significance of competing at the highest level of international eFootball.
“While we are naturally disappointed not to have qualified for the FIFAe Continental Championship, this campaign represents another important step in the growth of eFootball in Eswatini. Our players competed with determination against some of Africa’s best teams, and the experience gained will be invaluable as we continue investing in the development of the sport. We congratulate the team for proudly representing the nation and remain confident that the future of Eswatini eFootball is bright.”
The FIFAe Nations League has provided Eswatini with an important platform to measure its progress against the continent’s leading nations while exposing local players to elite international competition.
With the qualification phase now complete, the top five teams in the aggregate consistency rankings, together with the three best-performing teams from Week 3, have qualified for the inaugural FIFAe Continental Championship, which will be held in Casablanca, Morocco, from 27 August 2026.
Despite the campaign coming to an end, Eswatini’s participation reflects the Eswatini Football Association’s continued commitment to expanding football in all its forms and creating opportunities for talented players to compete on the international stage.