IN PHOTOS: Eswatini secure spot in next round of Afcon qualifiers
In spite of a late comeback by Somalia at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday March 26, Eswatini managed to secure a spot in the next round of qualifiers for the 2025 African Cup of Nations.
Eswatini secured one of the four spots available in the African Cup of Nations qualification when they surpassed Somalia over two legs with an aggregate score of 5-2 to progress from the preliminary qualification round.
They defeated Somalia 3-0 in the first leg and on the return leg the two sides drew 2-2 at Mbombela Stadium on March 26. There was plenty of action as the men from Eswatini progressed to the next round of qualification for Afcon 2025. > Photos: Blake Linder
Somalia captain Abdulsamad Abdullahi.
Yusuf Ahmed of Somalia and Bongwa Matsebula of Eswatini.
Sibonelo Sibandze of Eswatini.
Eswatini captain Sifiso Matse.
Sibonelo Sibandze of Eswatini.
Sibonelo Sibandze of Eswatini.
Eswatini’s Neliso Myeni and Sakariya Hassan of Somalia.
Sibonelo Sibandze of Eswatini.
Abdirizak Mohamed of Somalia.
Abdirizak Mohamed of Somalia.
Somalia’s Yusuf Ahmed. and Eswatini captain Sifiso Mate.
Somalia’s Yusuf Ahmed. and Eswatini captain Sifiso Mate.
Somalia’s Yusuf Ahmed.
Somalia’s Sakariya Hassan.
Somalia’s Mohamed Awad and Eswatini’s Sibonelo Sibandze.
Players in action in the Eswatini penalty area.
Somalia’s Sakariya Hassan.
Somalia’s Abel Mohamed.
Somalia’s Sakariya Hassan.
Eswatini goalkeeper Ncamiso Dlamini.
Somalia’s Ibrahim Ahmed.
Sibonelo Sibandze of Eswatini and Saadiq Elmi of Somalia.
Eswatini players celebrate their first goal.
Eswatini’s Bongwa Matebula.
Sibonelo Sibandze of Eswatini.
Eswatini players celebrate their first goal in the second leg against Somalia.
Eswatini’s Bongwa Matsebula.
Eswatini captain Sifiso Matse and Somalia’s Yusuf Ahmed.
Eswatini captain Sifiso Matse and Somalia’s Yusuf Ahmed.
Eswatini’s Justice Figareido tackled by Somalia’s Ismael Mohamed.
Mxolisi Mkhonto of Eswatini.
Eswatini’s Justice Figareido.
Eswatini’s Bongwa Matebula.
Eswatini’s Bongwa Matebula.
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Blake Linder is based in Mbombela and is a Senior Journalist at the Lowvelder. He carries with him nearly a decade's worth of experience in media. He has previously worked as News Editor, but now primarily focuses on Sport News, having previously won awards for both his sports writing and photography.
