Eritrea’s place in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers is under serious threat after seven players from their national team reportedly disappeared following a recent victory over Eswatini.
The incident occurred after Eritrea secured a 4-1 aggregate win over Eswatini on March 31, advancing to the next stage of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
However, celebrations have been overshadowed by controversy, with seven of the 10 locally-based players in the squad failing to return home. Reports indicate the players went missing during transit after the team departed Eswatini, travelling through South Africa en route to Eritrea via Egypt.
A source within the Confederation of African Football described the situation as unclear, noting that while the full delegation left Eswatini, seven players were unaccounted for upon arrival in Cairo.
“This incident is a mystery. No one seems certain what happened after the team left Eswatini,” the official said.
The development raises fresh concerns for Eritrean football, which has a history of players defecting while on international duty. Among those reported missing are goalkeepers Kibrom Solomon and Awet Maharena, defenders Wedeb Fessehaye, Yosief Tsegay, and Nahom Awet, as well as midfielder Medhane Redie and striker Amanuel Benhur.
Only three locally-based players—including captain Ablelom Teklezghi—returned to Asmara with the team.
The squad was recently assembled by head coach Hesham Yakan, who selected a mix of home-based and foreign-based players for the preliminary ties. Eritrea’s victory came as a surprise, marking their first international appearance in six years.
Due to the lack of a FIFA-standard stadium, Eritrea hosted the first leg of the tie in Meknes, Morocco. The team now faces uncertainty over its participation in the group-stage qualifiers, scheduled to take place between September and November.
The qualifiers will determine the teams that advance to the 2027 AFCON finals, set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
With investigations ongoing, the disappearance of the players could have far-reaching implications for Eritrea’s football future and its standing in continental competitions.
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