Swaziland have been a thorn in the side of many a top team down the years and they will again be competitive at the 2016 Cosafa Castle Cup.
The current side is coached by local tactician Harries Bulunga, who is seeking to rebuild the team into one that can challenge again for qualification to major tournaments.
Swaziland’s Cosafa Cup record
Swaziland have reached the semifinals of the Cosafa Castle Cup on three occasions, proving their potential for upset results.
In 2003 Sihlangu reached the last four but then lost to eventual winners Zimbabwe. In 2002 they were beaten in the semifinals by South Africa, who also went on to win the competition, and in 1999 they were also semifinalists but were narrowly defeat by Namibia on post-match penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Ironically before 1999, they had never won a game in the competition but are now always considered a threat in the Cosafa Castle Cup.
In 2004 Swaziland reached a competition low when they lost their quarter-final tie at home to Zimbabwe by a then competition record score line of 5-0. The match was not completed after a crowd riot brought the game to a premature halt. In 2003, Swaziland played host to the African under-17 championships.
They have not managed to make it past the group stages in the last five Cosafa Castle Cup tournaments, but have lost just three of their previous 15 matches, too many draws costing them a place in the knockout stages.
In 2015 they only missed out on the quarterfinals through goal-difference having recorded wins against Tanzania and Lesotho, and a draw with Madagascar.
Overall Cosafa Cup record:
P W D L GF GA
31 11 8 12 28 37
Honours: none
FIFA ranking: 133
CAF ranking: 42
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