Days after a landmark triumph away in Eswatini, seven members of the Eritrea national football team have failed to make the journey back home.
While part of the team safely returned via South Africa, several players reportedly absconded and cannot be accounted for.
Their whereabouts remain uncertain, although sightings in South Africa have been suggested.
The latest development comes just after Eritrea secured a long-awaited return to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying stages. It marked their first appearance at that level in nearly two decades.
However, only a fraction of the squad based domestically has reappeared in Asmara, the country’s capital city. Among those confirmed back is captain Ablelom Teklezghi, alongside just a handful of teammates.
Notably missing are key figures like goalkeeper Kubrom Solomon and experienced winger Medhanie Redie. Meanwhile, their absence has deepened uncertainty around the team’s immediate future.
Recurring Exodus: Why Eritrean players keep disappearing after international fixtures
Instead of celebration, the usual fanfare has been replaced by silence from state outlets. Planned homecoming events were reportedly scrapped once news of the disappearances broke.
Images shared from a brief stop in Cairo only showed those who eventually returned.
Over the years, Eritrean teams have repeatedly lost players during overseas assignments. In past tournaments across Uganda, Botswana, and Kenya, similar disappearances were recorded. At times, entire squads or large groups sought refuge instead of returning home.
Back in 2019, seven members of the under-20 squad vanished after competing in a regional tournament in Uganda.
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Four years earlier, 10 senior players chose not to return after a World Cup qualifier held in Botswana. Also, in 2013, an even larger group — 15 players alongside the team doctor — sought asylum after leaving camp during a trip to Uganda.
The most dramatic case came in 2009, when almost the entire senior team failed to make the journey back from Kenya, leaving only the coach and an official behind.
Critics often link these decisions to conditions within the country, though authorities strongly reject such claims. Still, migration figures suggest many Eritreans continue to seek opportunities beyond national borders.
Tags: Eritrea, AFCON, missing players, AFCON qualifying, Eswatini, South Africa.
