Eswatini return for third shot at CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier
Eswatini will return for a third successive year when the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier South Africa 2025 is staged in Stellenbosch from December 5-7.
Having missed the inaugural zonal qualifier in Malawi in 2022, Eswatini debuted in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2023, and their Boys’ team reached the semifinals in Walvis Bay, Namibia last year to show their potential.
Their Boys took a single point from four games in 2023 following a 0-0 draw with Botswana, which was followed by defeats to Mozambique (0-2), Zimbabwe (1-3) and Malawi (0-2), and a group-stage exit.
But they improved on that 12 months later in Namibia, beating Zimbabwe (1-0) to go with a draw against Angola (1-1) and a loss to South Africa (0-4).
They finished second in their pool and set up a semifinal with Zambia, who beat them 1-0 to reach the final.
The Girls’ team did not manage a point in 2023 after they lost to Botswana and Zimbabwe by 5-1 margins, and to Mozambique (1-2) and Malawi (0-2).
They returned the following year in Walvis Bay and fared better but still could not book a semifinal spot.
They defeated Angola 5-0 in their opener, drew with Zimbabwe (1-1) and lost to South Africa (0-4) to finish third in the pool on goals scored behind Zimbabwe.
They will return in Stellenbosch hoping to build on those performances and show the development of schools football in the country over the last few years.
The draw for this year’s 11-team tournament will be made a few days before the competition.
ESWATINI’S PAST FINISHES
BOYS
2022: Did not enter
2023: Group Stage
2024: Semifinals
GIRLS
2022: Did not enter
2023: Group Stage
2024: Group Stage
ESWATINI’S PAST RESULTS
BOYS
2023
Botswana 0-0 Eswatini
Mozambique 2-0 Eswatini
Zimbabwe 3-1 Eswatini
Malawi 2-0 Eswatini
2024
Angola 1-1 Eswatini
Eswatini 1-0 Zimbabwe
South Africa 4-0 Eswatini
Zambia 1-0 Eswatini
GIRLS
2023
Botswana 5-1 Eswatini
Mozambique 2-1 Eswatini
Zimbabwe 5-1 Eswatini
Malawi 2-0 Eswatini
2024
Angola 0-5 Eswatini
Eswatini 1-1 Zimbabwe
South Africa 4-0 Eswatini