Eritrea secured a 2-0 victory against Eswatini in their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA 2027 preliminary round qualifier, gaining an early advantage ahead of the return leg.
The match, played in Meknes, Morocco, saw both sides struggle to break the deadlock for much of the game before two late goals handed Eritrea a comfortable margin.
The breakthrough came in the 81st minute when Siem Eyob-Abraha delivered a corner that evaded all players in the penalty area and went directly into the net. The unexpected goal gave Eritrea the lead after a tightly contested encounter.
Eritrea sealed the win deep into added time. Four minutes into stoppage time, Ali Suleiman, considered a key figure in the team, made a determined run down the left flank before unleashing a powerful shot from close range into the roof of the net. The strike ensured a two-goal cushion heading into the second leg.
Despite the victory, Eritrea missed an earlier opportunity to extend their lead. Suleiman had a penalty saved by Eswatini goalkeeper Mlamuli Makhanya, who dived low to his right to deny the effort.
The match marked Eritrea’s return to continental qualifiers after an absence of nearly 20 years. Their previous AFCON qualifying campaign was also against Eswatini in September 2007, when Eritrea finished second in their qualification group.
This latest encounter also served as the opening fixture of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 preliminary round. The round features six teams competing for places in the next stage of the competition.
The teams will meet again in the second leg, scheduled to take place in Eswatini on Tuesday next week. Eritrea will aim to protect their advantage, while Eswatini face the challenge of overturning a two-goal deficit on home soil.
The winners of the preliminary round ties will progress to the group phase, where they will join 42 other member associations competing for qualification to the tournament finals.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It will mark the first time in 51 years that the tournament has been staged in East Africa.
With a strong finish in the first leg, Eritrea have put themselves in a favourable position as they seek to advance further in the competition.
