Seven Eritrean Footballers Abscond After Historic Victory
Eritrean Footballers Abscond After Historic Victory
Seven players from the Eritrean national football team have reportedly absconded following their triumphant Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Eswatini. The players did not return with their teammates from South Africa, where they had travelled after their 2-1 victory over Eswatini, which secured their aggregate win and a return to the qualifying group stages for the first time in 19 years.
This incident is not unprecedented; Eritrea has a history of athletes failing to return home after international competitions. Rights organisations frequently criticise the Eritrean government as highly repressive, a claim the authorities consistently deny. Hundreds of thousands of Eritreans have sought asylum abroad, despite the nation's relatively small population.
Sources in Asmara confirmed that only three of the ten Eritrea-based players from the 24-man squad, including captain Ablelom Teklezghi, have returned. Among those missing are goalkeeper Kubrom Solomon and veteran winger Medhanie Redie. While their current whereabouts are unconfirmed, there are reports some have been sighted in South Africa.
State-owned Eritrean media has remained notably silent regarding the team's return, a stark contrast to the usual celebratory fanfare. Preparations for a grand reception were reportedly cancelled upon news of the players' disappearance. A spokesperson for Eritrea's Sport and Culture Commission, despite previously posting updates on the team's success, only shared images of the returning players and staff during a reception in Cairo, omitting any sign of the absconded athletes.
This latest development is a familiar disappointment for many Eritrean football fans, who had hoped the victory would signal a renaissance for the sport in the country. Over the past two decades, numerous Eritrean national teams, at various levels, have experienced similar situations where players, and even almost entire squads, have disappeared while abroad.
