Somhlolo National Stadium

Last updated

Somhlolo National Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Lobamba, Eswatini. Built in 1968, it has artificial turf and holds 20,000 fans. It is used for soccer and rugby matches.

The stadium is named after King Sobhuza I, also known as Somhlolo, who moved his people into the region now known as Eswatini, and is considered the father of the country. [1]

It is the largest stadium in the country. It was banned by CAF from hosting international matches in 2019, [2] and was closed for renovations in 2022. It reopened in January 2024. [3]

Related Research Articles

The Mali national football team represents Mali in men's international football and is governed by the Malian Football Federation. The team's nickname is Les Aigles. They represent the country at tournaments organized by both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somalia national football team</span>

The Somalia national football team, nicknamed the Ocean Stars, represents Somalia in international football and is controlled by the Somali Football Federation (SFF), a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Somalia's first national team captain was Mohamed Shangole, while its longest serving captain has been Hasan Babay.

Sobhuza I was king of Eswatini, from 1815 to 1850. Born around the year 1788, his father was King Ndvungunye, and his mother was Somnjalose Simelane. He was called Somhlolo, meaning "Mysterious man", upon his birth because his father, Ndvungunye, was struck by lightning. When Sobhuza was king, Lojiba Simelane, instead of his mother, Somnjalose was Queen Mother because Somnjalose was an inhlanti or support bride to Lojiba. Somhlolo is a greatly revered king of Eswatini. He had his first royal capital or kraal at Zombodze in the Shiselweni region, but moved it north to new Zombodze in central Eswatini. Swazis celebrate Somhlolo Day every September 6 as their Independence Day and the national stadium is named Somhlolo National Stadium. Sobhuza was succeeded by his son Mswati II and his wife Tsandzile Ndwandwe as Queen Mother after a short regency by Queen Lojiba Simelane. Sobhuza by the time of his death had conquered a country claimed to reach to modern day Barberton in the north, Carolina in the west, Pongola River in the south and Lubombo Mountains in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lobamba</span> Capital city in Hhohho, Eswatini

Lobamba is a place in Eswatini located in between Eswatini's two main cities, Mbabane and Manzini.

The 1998 African Women's Championship was the 3rd edition of the biennial African Women's Championship tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Since this edition, the tournament has been organized biennially and was hosted by a country unlike the previous two editions.

Mbabane Swallows Football Club is an Eswatini professional football club based in Mbabane. The club was established in 1948. It was the first Swazi club to participate in the CAF Champions League, when they did it in 2018. Mbabane Swallows regularly play home games in front of thousands of spectators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakivubo Stadium</span> Stadium in Uganda

Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo War Memorial Grounds, formerly referred to as Nakivubo Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Kampala, Uganda. Following extensive renovations led by businessman Haji Dr. Hamis Kiggundu in partnership with the Ugandan government, the stadium has been upgraded to international standards. The facility auditioned with significant events like CAF U17 and CHAN 2024 in december 2024 which marked a new chapter in Uganda's sporting and community landscape. It is slated to host the AFCON2027. As of December 2024; Two Uganda premier league clubs URA FC and Express FC use Hamz stadium as their home ground.The stadium was commissioned by President Museveni on 25 April 2024.It has a total seating capacity of 35,000 people.

The 2003 African U-17 Championship was a football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament took place in Swaziland. The top three teams qualified for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship.

This page details the process of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification phase. Forty-six African nations, including hosts Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, entered the competition. Gabon and Equatorial Guinea automatically qualified as host countries. The other 44 nations were drawn into eleven groups, each containing 4 teams. Togo was later added to Group K after its reinstatement.

The 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualification was a men's under-23 football competition which decided the participating teams of the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations. Players born on or after 1 January 1993 were eligible to compete in the tournament.

Group L of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification tournament was one of the thirteen groups to decide the teams which qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals tournament. The group consisted of four teams: Guinea, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Swaziland.

The 2017 CAF Confederation Cup group stage was played from 12 May to 9 July 2017. A total of 16 teams competed in the group stage to decide the eight places in the knockout stage of the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2025 Africa Cup of Nations</span> Scheduled 35th edition of AFCON

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as AFCON 2025 or CAN 2025, is scheduled to be the 35th edition of the biennial African football tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It will be hosted by Morocco for the second time and the first since 1988. Morocco was originally scheduled to host the 2015 edition, but withdrew due to fears stemming from the Western African Ebola virus epidemic.

The 2021 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations qualification was a men's under-17 football competition which decided the teams that would have participated in the 2021 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

The 2020–21 CAF Confederation Cup qualifying rounds were played from 27 November 2020 to 21 February 2021. A total of 67 teams are competing in the qualifying rounds to decide the 16 places in the group stage of the 2020–21 CAF Confederation Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 CAF Women's Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers</span> Inaugural COSAFA Womens Champions League edition

The 2021 CAF Women's Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers, commonly known as the 2021 COSAFA Women's Champions League, was the inaugural edition of the annual qualification competition for the CAF Women's Champions League organized by COSAFA for its nations. This edition was held in two stadiums in Durban, South Africa from 26 August to 4 September 2021.

The 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualification was a men's under-20 football competition which decided the participating teams of the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

The 2022 COSAFA U-20 Cup was the 28th edition of the COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup, an international youth football tournament open to national associations of the COSAFA region. It took place between 7 and 16 October 2022 in Eswatini.

The 2023–24 Premier League of Eswatini was the 2023–24 season of the Premier League of Eswatini, the top-tier football league in Eswatini It was won by Mbabane Swallows, who earned R1 million in prize money.

The Ingwenyama Cup is soccer tournament in Eswatini. The winner qualifies for the following season's CAF Confederation Cup. As of 2025, sponsorship is E5 million annually, making it the country's richest club tournament. As of 2023–24, the top goalscorer earns E10 000

References

  1. "Somhlolo National Stadium". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  2. "Somhlolo National Stadium not ready for CAF inspection". Times of Eswatini. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  3. "'Birds', 'Bull' celebrate Somhlolo return". Times of Eswatini. Retrieved 2025-02-05.

26°26′34.44″S31°12′20.23″E / 26.4429000°S 31.2056194°E / -26.4429000; 31.2056194