The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has failed to announce the Sihlangu Semnikati squad for the upcoming international friendly against Malta, despite promising to do so on Tuesday. The match is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium in Malta. This fixture marks the first time Eswatini will play an international friendly against a European nation. The EFA confirmed that engagements to secure the match had been successfully concluded with the Malta Football Association.
The EFA's failure to announce the squad is the latest in a series of unfulfilled promises. Over the past year, the EFA repeatedly pledged to announce a permanent replacement for departed Croatian gaffer Zdravko ‘Loga’ Logarušić but has failed to deliver. On Friday, the EFA announced an interim technical bench led by former Head Coach Dominic Kunene, assisted by Ezulwini United tactician Caleb ‘No Nonsense’ Ngwenya. The EFA claimed a substantive head coach had already been identified, pending compensation details.
The EFA's Marketing and Communications Manager, Muzi ‘Rhoo’ Radebe, said on Tuesday that he was waiting on the executive committee to release the squad, but that promise failed to materialize. Follow-ups made on Wednesday yielded no further progress, with Radebe admitting that he remained in the dark regarding the timeline. The EFA's repeated failures to meet deadlines have raised concerns about the organization's ability to manage the national team.
The Malta national team, currently ranked 160th in the latest FIFA world rankings, will use the fixture as vital preparation for their decisive Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Nations League (League D1) clash against Gibraltar on Monday, November 16, 2026. Malta face Eswatini in the friendly at 6:30 pm at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium before focusing on their crucial UEFA Nations League fixture against Gibraltar.
The EFA's interim technical team, led by Kunene, was appointed strictly for this month's International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) international window, with the new head coach expected to take charge during the course of the week. The EFA's inability to announce the squad has raised questions about the team's preparedness for the match against Malta.
The match against Malta presents an opportunity for Eswatini to test their skills against a European opponent. The EFA's failure to announce the squad has disappointed fans, who are eager to see the team in action. The team's performance in the match will be closely watched, as it marks a significant milestone in Eswatini's football history.
The Eswatini Government has been supportive of the national team, and the team's athletes are expected to receive a combined payment of E1 500 for their efforts. The EFA's failure to announce the squad has raised concerns about the organization's ability to manage the team's logistics and prepare the team for international matches.
Key points
- The EFA's failure to announce the Sihlangu Semnikati squad for the Malta friendly continues a trend of unfulfilled promises.
- The match against Malta marks the first time Eswatini will play an international friendly against a European nation.
- The EFA's interim technical team was appointed strictly for this month's FIFA international window.
