Eritrea 2-0 Eswatini: Eritrea mark return to AFCON qualifiers in the 1st leg

Game is over and the final score is Eritrea 2-0 Eswatini. Here is the match report.

Match Report

Eritrea secured a 2-0 victory over Eswatini in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA 2027 Preliminary Round qualifier played in Meknes, Morocco, on Wednesday.

The opening goal of the game was scored in the 81st minute when Siem Eyob-Abraha’s corner appeared to miss everyone and go straight into the net.

The second goal came four minutes into added time at the end of the game as their talisman, Ali Suleiman, went on a mazy run on the left and fired a rocket shot into the roof of the net from close range.

The Eritreans, playing their first continental qualifier in almost 20 years, also missed a penalty as Suleiman saw his effort saved by Eswatini goalkeeper Mlamuli Makhanya, who dived low to his right.

Ironically, Eritrea’s previous TotalEnergies CAF AFCON qualifier was also against Eswatini in September 2007. The side finished second in their qualification pool that year.

The two teams will now travel to Eswatini for the return leg, which will be played on Tuesday next week.