Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Eswatini senior men’s team Sihlangu Semnikati will begin their quest to the Total Energies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 with a match against Somalia.
The Dominic Kunene-led side became aware of their opponents yesterday afternoon during a draw held in Cairo, Egypt.
The matches will be played on home and away basis during the FIFA break between March 20 and 26.
The four preliminary round winners will join the 44 exempted teams for the group stage on a mission to be part of the 35th edition of the continental showpiece.
Eswatini is currently ranked at 149 on the FIFA world rankings with Somalia at 198, making it look possible for the local side to begin their journey with a win.
The senior national team is expected to take part in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers and further continue with the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in June.
Sihlangu are yet to qualify for their first AFCON after failing to qualify for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) played in Ivory Coast last month. Since then, Sihlangu has participated in the COSAFA Senior Men’s Championships, where it bowed out in the group stages.
Sihlangu assistant coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane said they would prepare well for the match.
“We accept the draw as we respect every team we face, but it is a do-or-die clash for us as Eswatini because we are pursuing a dream to participate in the AFCON for the first time.
We are going to prepare hard for this game and we hope as the head coach (Dominic) has faced them before, that might work to our advantage,” said Ntibane.
Meanwhile, the last time Sihlangu played against Somalia, the nation’s pride won 5-1 on aggregate.
This was during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers were Sihlangu won 2-1 at home before winning 3-0 in the second leg away.
FULL CAF AFCON PRELIMINARY DRAW:
Somalia vs Eswatini
Sao Tome vs South Sudan
Chad vs Mauritius
Djibouti. vs Liberia
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