Eswatini face Malta on 12 November at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium, their first match against a European nation. But the federation has still not published the promised squad list, according to the Times of Eswatini.
Eswatini have never faced a European nation in an international friendly. That will change on Thursday 12 November 2026, at 6.30pm, at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium, against Malta. The match was confirmed by the Malta Football Association (MFA) on its social media and verified by the sports desk of the Times of Malta, reports the Times of Eswatini. For now, though, the preparation is mostly a waiting game.
Kunene and Ngwenya for the only November window
With little time to spare, the EFA announced on Friday an interim technical staff led by former head coach Dominic Kunene as interim coach, assisted by Caleb Ngwenya as interim assistant coach. The staff is appointed strictly for the November FIFA window, with no mandate beyond it.
The EFA explained its decision in a statement cited by the Times of Eswatini: “The EFA is currently finalising some finer compensation details. However, in view of the imminent international friendly match against Malta and the required logistical preparations, it has been decided that an interim appointment of coaches be implemented”. In essence, the federation is still finalising compensation details and judged that the logistical preparations for the Malta match could not wait.
A year of promises, no permanent head coach
The position has been vacant since the departure of Croatian Zdravko Logarušić, the former head coach. The federation has not appointed a permanent head coach to replace him, despite repeated promises over the past year, according to the Times of Eswatini. It does, however, claim to have identified a permanent head coach and to be finalising the details of his compensation.
On the communication side, Muzi Radebe, the EFA’s marketing and communications manager, said he was waiting for the executive committee before publishing the list. No player names have therefore been released to date, and Dominic Kunene’s interim staff are working without an announced squad.
Thursday 12 November, at Ta’ Qali
Kick-off is set for Thursday 12 November 2026, at 6.30pm, at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium, in Malta. The publication of the squad list and the arrival of the permanent head coach are still awaited.