Eritrean Soccer Team Loses Seven Members in South Africa Following AFCON Qualifying Match

A dramatic turn of events has unfolded for the Eritrea national football team, with seven players failing to return home after their team's triumph over Eswatini in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, according to a source close to the squad.

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This development comes on the heels of Eritrea's 2–1 win over Eswatini, which sealed a 4–1 aggregate victory and secured the team's place in the qualifying group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 19 years.

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Following the match, part of the delegation travelled back to Eritrea through South Africa, but seven players are believed to have absconded, with their current whereabouts unknown, although some may still be in South Africa.

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The squad's team captain, Ablelom Teklezghi, is among the few players who have returned to Eritrea, with only three of the 10 players based in the country making their way back home.

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Goalkeeper Kubrom Solomon and experienced winger Medhanie Redie are among the players who have yet to return, leaving the team's homecoming celebration in limbo.

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State-run media in Eritrea has been tight-lipped about the team's homecoming, and plans to host a reception for the victorious squad have been reportedly shelved in light of the players' disappearance.

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Photos released by officials show some team members being welcomed by embassy representatives and Eritrean community members in Cairo during a stopover, but only those who continued their journey to Asmara were present.

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This incident is not an isolated one, as it mirrors a recurring trend of Eritrean athletes failing to return after international assignments, including seven players from the under-20 side who went missing in Uganda in 2019.

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In 2015, 10 senior players declined to return home after a World Cup qualifying match in Botswana, while in 2013, 15 players and a team doctor were granted asylum in Uganda.

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A similar incident occurred in 2009, when nearly the entire senior squad failed to return after travelling to Kenya, highlighting a persistent issue for Eritrean sports teams competing abroad.