Sihlangu Semnikati gunning for glory over Mambas

In what could be the nation's last opportunity to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Eswatini will go up against a strong Mozambique at the Mbombela Stadium on Monday evening.

Kick-off is at 9pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

For Mozambique, however, a victory for them could all but confirm their place in the tournament next year in Morocco.

Sihlangu Semnikati kept their hopes alive with a 1-1 draw against Mozambique on Friday at Estadio da Machava and hope to continue the momentum in their pursuit to participate in the next Afcon.

Eswatini have only collected one point from their three outings and currently sit at the bottom of Group I.

As for Os Mambas, they are second in the group, only two points shy of Mali and two points clear of Guinea-Bissau.

They are also looking at making consecutive Afcon appearances for the first time since 1998, and it appears they are in pole position to make it happen.

Mozambique participated in the 2023 Afcon that was hosted in Ivory Coast earlier this year but made their exit in the group stages of the competition.

Should they qualify for the next continental showpiece, they’ll aim to do one better and make it to the knockout phases.

Eswatini head coach Zdravko Logarusic is wary of Mozambique and the threat they possess, alluding that they will not underestimate them.

"Mozambique is a good team as they have players who play their club football in Europe. They got good results in the previous matches in the group which makes them the best team in the group at the present moment,” he says.