Football

MBABANE – The reigning MTN Premier League Player of the Season, Yekisizwe ‘Madumane’ Khumalo, has finally earned his first national team call-up to Sihlangu.

The former Moneni Pirates midfield maestro is part of the 24-man squad, which was leaked from Sigwaca House yesterday.

The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) recently confirmed that former assistant Coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane will lead the national team for their two remaining 2026 International Federation of Association (FIFA) World Cup qualifiers next month.

His appointment comes after Croatian gaffer Zdravko ‘Loga’ Logarusic was dismissed with two months left on his contract, following a series of poor results.

Ntibane, a former Royal Leopard player and award-winning coach, will be assisted by Mbabane Highlanders AM mentor Ernest Mavuso for the matches against Angola and Cape Verde.

Sihlangu are set to host Angola at Somhlolo National Stadium on October 6, 2025, before travelling to Cape Verde for their final fixture a week later.

Khumalo’s previous omission from the national team by the former coach had raised eyebrows, especially after he was crowned the country’s Best Player for the 2024/25 season. He was instrumental in helping his side, Nsingizini Hotspurs, clinch their maiden elite league title just three years into the Premier League.

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Nsingizini Hotspurs’ Yekisizwe Khumalo dribbles his way past Simba Bhora players. (Pic: Nsingizini Hotspurs)