Seven Eritrean Footballers Disappear After AFCON Qualifying Win Over Eswatini

Seven Eritrean footballers have gone missing after the national team’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over Eswatini. Most were substitute players, and coach Hesham Yakan believes they may be seeking better economic opportunities abroad rather than continuing their football careers. Eritrea returned to AFCON qualifiers for the first time since 2008, winning 4-1 on aggregate. The country lacks a stadium that meets CAF requirements, so the first leg was held in Morocco. Officials have not commented, and the 2027 AFCON will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Seven Eritrean footballers have gone missing following the national team’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying victory over Eswatini last week, according to coach Hesham Yakan. The development has raised concerns about the challenges faced by athletes from Eritrea when travelling abroad for international competitions.
Eritrea returned to AFCON qualifiers this year for the first time since the 2008 campaign. For years, the country had restricted its teams from travelling abroad after several players from its under-20 side defected to Uganda in 2019, creating a history of athletes seeking to leave the country in pursuit of better opportunities. This historical context adds significance to the current situation, as officials and observers note the pattern of players disappearing during international trips.
“Most of them are substitute players,” Yakan told Reuters when asked about the missing athletes. He explained that the players have been unaccounted for since the second leg of the tie on March 31. According to Yakan, the players are likely attempting to find economic opportunities in wealthier countries rather than continuing their professional football careers.
“I do not think they will continue playing football,” Yakan added. Yakan himself has extensive experience on the international stage, having been a former defender for Egypt and having played at the 1990 World Cup, which gives him insight into the pressures and opportunities that players face when competing abroad.
Eritrea had won the first leg of the tie 2-0 in Morocco, a neutral venue chosen because the country does not possess a stadium that meets the Confederation of African Football’s requirements for hosting international fixtures. The absence of a compliant home stadium has historically posed logistical challenges for Eritrean football, affecting both players and fans.
The team’s line-up included several players who are based at clubs in Australia, Germany, Norway, and Sweden, reflecting the growing diaspora of Eritrean athletes who have pursued careers overseas. In the second leg, held at Eswatini’s Somhlolo National Stadium on March 31, Eritrea secured a 2-1 victory, completing a 4-1 aggregate win and advancing in the AFCON qualifying rounds.
When approached for comment, Eritrea’s Minister of Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, declined to respond to Reuters’ inquiries. Similarly, a spokesperson for the Eritrean National Football Federation did not reply to an emailed request for comment, leaving questions about the government and football federation’s response to the disappearances unanswered.
The next Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for 2027, will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The tournament will provide further opportunities for Eritrean footballers to compete on the continental stage, but the recent incidents underscore the broader socio-economic and political challenges that athletes from Eritrea may face when representing their country abroad.