Eswatini Stages Stunning Comeback to Deny Angola in World Cup Qualifier

Mbabane, Eswatini — In a match that seemed destined for heartbreak, Eswatini transformed despair into euphoria at Somhlolo Stadium on Tuesday, erasing a two-goal deficit to salvage a crucial 2-2 draw against Angola in World Cup qualifying action.

Justice Figuareido emerged as the unlikely hero for the hosts, scoring twice in a six-minute span early in the second half to breathe life into Eswatini's qualifying campaign after they had entered the break trailing by two goals.

The match began ominously for Eswatini, who had arrived at this fixture carrying the weight of consecutive defeats — a crushing 3-0 loss to Cameroon and a disappointing 2-0 setback against Libya. Those results had left the small southern African nation's World Cup dreams hanging by the thinnest of threads.

Angola, meanwhile, came to Mbabane with confidence restored after their emphatic 3-1 victory over Mauritius last month, a result that had helped them recover from their own stumble against Libya. The Palancas Negras appeared ready to capitalize on their hosts' vulnerable state.

The visitors struck first in the 48th minute through an unfortunate own goal, as Eswatini defender Justice Figuareido inadvertently deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper under pressure from the Angola attack. The stadium fell silent as home supporters watched their team's qualifying hopes appear to slip further away.

Just six minutes later, Angola doubled their advantage when Jonathan Buatu found space in the penalty area and finished clinically, sending the traveling supporters into raptures and leaving Eswatini facing what seemed an insurmountable mountain to climb.

But football has a way of humbling the confident and rewarding the desperate.

Figuareido, whose own goal had contributed to Eswatini's plight, began his remarkable redemption story in the 69th minute. The defender-turned-savior found himself in an advanced position during a set piece situation and powered home a header that sent shockwaves through Somhlolo Stadium. Suddenly, the impossible seemed merely improbable.

The momentum had shifted entirely. Angola, who had controlled the match for over an hour, found themselves retreating under relentless pressure from a Eswatini side that had discovered something profound: belief.

That belief was rewarded in the 80th minute when Figuareido completed his extraordinary turnaround. Racing onto a through ball that split Angola's backline, he kept his composure under pressure and slotted past the advancing goalkeeper. The stadium erupted as players and fans alike celebrated what felt less like a goal and more like a miracle.

The final ten minutes saw Angola desperately seeking a winner that would restore their two-goal cushion, but Eswatini's defense, marshaled by the now-heroic Figuareido, held firm. Every clearance was met with roars from the home crowd, every Angola corner defended as if the nation's World Cup dreams depended on it — which, in many ways, they did.

For Eswatini, this draw represents more than just a point in the standings. After consecutive defeats had threatened to derail their qualifying campaign entirely, Tuesday's comeback demonstrated the resilience that World Cup dreams are built upon. The result keeps them within touching distance of qualification, though significant challenges remain ahead.

Angola will rue their inability to close out a match they had firmly under control. Having taken a commanding two-goal lead, the Palancas Negras allowed Eswatini back into the contest through a combination of defensive lapses and diminished intensity. In World Cup qualifying, such margins for error can prove costly.

The draw leaves both teams with work to do as the qualification campaign intensifies. Angola maintains their position near the top of the group standings, but Tuesday's result serves as a reminder that no lead is safe in international football. For Eswatini, the comeback provides precious momentum and, perhaps more importantly, the confidence that their World Cup dream remains alive.

As both teams prepare for their next fixtures, Tuesday's thriller at Somhlolo Stadium will be remembered as the night when Justice Figuareido transformed from villain to hero, and when Eswatini refused to surrender their World Cup aspirations without a fight.