Round five of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers sees Eswatini entertain the challenge of Togo at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Both teams need to come away with all three points to keep their continental dream alive, and this weekend's meeting should be an entertaining affair.

Match preview

Togo saw off the threat of Lesotho following a routine 2-0 victory in the teams' friendly encounter at Bidvest Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Paulo Duarte's men wasted no time in breaking the deadlock through Yawo Agbagno after which Ahoueke Denkey doubled the lead midway through the first half.

Consequently, Les Eperviers have ended a 10-game winless streak across all competitions since they defeated Sierra Leone back in March 2022.

Up next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit with little to choose between the sides, as the last three clashes have yielded one win apiece and a share of the spoils.

Currently on a run of five defeats and two draws from their most recent seven outings on the road, Sunday's visitors have been largely underwhelming on the road and will need to turn their fortunes around.

Eswatini suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde on March 28 to leave them on the brink of elimination from the AFCON qualifiers.

Ryan Mendes' opener 10 minutes into the second period proved to be the all-important moment which put Dominic Kunene's men to the sword in a tight affair.

That defeat leaves Sihlangu Semnikati third in Group B after four matches in which they have only managed to pick up two points, five behind the final qualification spot.

With their AFCON dream now all but over, Saturday's hosts go in search of what would be a confidence boost ahead of the start of next month's COSAFA Cup.

Team News

For the second international break in a row, Fanelo Mamba remains the only member of the Eswatini squad who plays club football outside the country.

Sabelo Ndzinisa has found the back of the net in seven of his last 11 appearances for the home side, making him one to keep a close eye on this weekend.

Yawo Agbagno got his Togo career off to a great start by scoring on his full debut and the forward could be rewarded with a first competitive start.

Ahoueke Denkey is also expected to retain his place in the XI having netted for the third time in four games for club and country last time out.

Eswatini possible starting lineup:
Dlamini; Thwala, Mkhwanazi, Mamba, Mkhonta; Mamba, Matse, Ngwenya, Mkhontfo; Dlamini, Ndzinisa

Togo possible starting lineup:
Mensah; Bessile, Boateng, Tchakei; Asamoah, Hackman, Ouro-Agoro, Samsondin; Agbagono, Denkey, Henen

We say: Eswatini 0-1 Togo

Both teams boast the same number of goals scored and conceded from their opening four matches and this weekend's contest could easily swing either way. However, we just about back the away side to emerge victorious at the end of the 90 minutes.


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