Eswatini Secures Historic Draw Against Cameroon in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

In a stunning turn of events, Eswatini, ranked 159th in FIFA, managed to hold Cameroon, the Group D leaders, to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday. This historic outcome marks a significant achievement for the South African country in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The match, played at Mbombela Stadium in South Africa, saw Eswatini showcase exceptional defensive resilience in front of a small crowd. Despite Cameroon’s dominance, with nine points from five matches, the Indomitable Lions were unable to break through Eswatini’s tactical discipline.

Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo came close to scoring early on, hitting the crossbar in the 15th minute. Vincent Aboubakar also saw multiple attempts denied. However, the second half proved uneventful for Cameroon as Eswatini’s defense held firm.

The standout performance of Eswatini’s goalkeeper, Mlamuli Makhanya, was instrumental in securing the team’s first point in the qualification campaign. Makhanya’s heroic goalkeeping efforts thwarted Cameroon’s relentless attacks, earning Eswatini a well-deserved draw.

This unexpected result adds another twist to Cameroon’s campaign, which has seen them held by Libya and Angola in previous matches. Eswatini’s historic draw serves as a testament to their determination and tactical discipline, and will undoubtedly boost their confidence in the remaining qualification matches.