Eritrea Take First-Leg Advantage with 2-0 Win Over Eswatini in AFCON 2027 Qualifier

Eritrea began their first continental qualifier in nearly 20 years with an impressive 2-0 victory against Eswatini in the first leg of their CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 preliminary round. The match was played on Wednesday in Meknes.

The breakthrough came late in the game when Siem Eyob-Abraha delivered a corner in the 81st minute that seemingly evaded everyone and found the back of the net, giving Eritrea the lead. Their talisman Ali Suleiman sealed the victory with a second goal four minutes into stoppage time, ensuring a strong advantage ahead of the return leg.

Both teams will now head to Eswatini for the second leg, scheduled for Tuesday next week, with Eritrea aiming to maintain their edge and book a spot in the next round of AFCON 2027 qualifying.