Eritrean Footballers Go Missing After AFCON Qualifier
Eitrea players disappear after Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Eswatini.
7 Eritrean footballers missing after AFCON qualifier win, likely fled to wealthier nations...
Seven Eritrean footballers, including some substitute players, have gone missing after the national team's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying win over Eswatini. Coach Hesham Yakan believes they might be seeking economic opportunities in wealthier countries, saying “I do not think they will continue playing football.”
This isn't the first time Eritrean players have fled abroad. In 2019, several players from the under-20 side fled to Uganda, leading to a ban on international travel. The country has a history of players defecting, with around 80 footballers abandoning their posts while playing abroad. Human rights groups describe Eritrea's government as repressive, and players have cited harsh conditions and mandatory military service as reasons for fleeing.
“Most of them are substitute players,” Yakan told Reuters. The players have been missing since the second leg of the tie on March 31, and the coach said he believed they would try to find economic opportunities in wealthier countries.
“I do not think they will continue playing football,” said Yakan, a former Egypt defender who featured at the 1990 World Cup.
Eritrea secured a 2-0 win over Morocco in the first leg, played in a neutral venue due to stadium requirements.
The win gives Eritrea a strong advantage heading into the second leg, with Morocco needing a big comeback to overturn the deficit.
Eritrea's squad, featuring players from Australia, Germany, Norway, and Sweden, secured a 4-1 aggregate win over Eswatini. They won the second leg 2-1 at Somhlolo National Stadium on March 31.
George Ghebreslassie, who supports Eritrean refugees, confirms the missing players likely fled. Many Eritreans flee due to the country's harsh government and mandatory military service.
“It happens quite a lot,” said Ghebreslassie, who left Eritrea in 1999.
“It shows the kind of situation we have in Eritrea. We thought things would change, but nothing has changed. People have become hopeless in their own country.”
Eritrea's Minister of Information Yemane Gebremeskel declined to comment, and the Eritrean National Football Federation didn't respond to requests for comment.
“These players are poor. It was their first time flying,” a source close to the team said. “This is about looking for work and improving their income.”
Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki has been in power since 1993, with human rights groups criticizing his government as repressive.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
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