Eritrea complete historic aggregate win over Eswatini to reach AFCON 2027 next round

Eritrea sealed their place in the next stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualifiers after defeating Eswatini 2-1 in the second leg on Tuesday, securing a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, Eritrea once again proved clinical when it mattered, with Ali Suleiman delivering a decisive performance to guide his side through.

Suleiman strikes again

After a goalless first half, Eritrea took control of the tie early in the second period.

Suleiman opened the scoring in the 50th minute before doubling his tally just nine minutes later, effectively putting the contest beyond Eswatini’s reach.

The forward, who had also been influential in the first leg, once again demonstrated his importance, stepping up at key moments to ensure Eritrea maintained their advantage.

With a commanding aggregate lead, Eritrea managed the game with composure, limiting Eswatini’s attacking threat for much of the second half.

Late response from Eswatini

Eswatini did manage a late consolation goal through Justice Figuareido deep into stoppage time, but it proved too little, too late to change the outcome of the tie.

Despite their efforts, Eswatini struggled to overturn the deficit from the first leg, where Eritrea had already laid a strong foundation with a 2-0 victory.

That earlier result, achieved in Morocco, had given Eritrea a crucial cushion heading into the return fixture.

First-leg advantage proves key

Eritrea’s success over the two legs was built on a disciplined and effective first-leg display.

In that encounter, they struck late through Siem Eyob-Abraha and Suleiman to secure a 2-0 win, even after missing a penalty earlier in the match.

Those goals ultimately proved decisive, allowing Eritrea to approach the second leg with confidence and control.

A significant step forward

The victory marks an important milestone for Eritrea, who are competing in AFCON qualifiers for the first time in nearly two decades.

Their progression to the next round highlights a team growing in belief and organisation, with Suleiman emerging as a key figure in their campaign.

For Eswatini, the result brings an end to their journey at the preliminary stage, despite showing resilience in the return leg.

Looking ahead

Eritrea will now join the next phase of the qualifiers alongside other advancing teams, as they continue their pursuit of a place at the AFCON 2027 finals, set to be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

For a nation returning to continental competition, this victory represents both a statement of intent and a reminder of their potential on the African stage.

With momentum on their side, Eritrea’s AFCON journey is only just beginning.