Seven players from the Eritrean national football squad have disappeared following their recent victory against Eswatini, according to reports from sources close to the team. The players failed to board their return flight, choosing instead to remain abroad after the team secured a spot in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group stages for the first time in 19 years.
While the majority of the team traveled through South Africa on their way back to Asmara, the seven players reportedly absconded. Sources told BBC Tigrinya that only three of the 10 Eritrea-based players, including captain Ablelom Teklezghi, arrived back in the country.
A pattern of desertions
The missing squad members include goalkeeper Kubrom Solomon and veteran winger Medhanie Redie. While their exact whereabouts remain unconfirmed, reports suggest some of the players were spotted in South Africa.
Eritrean state media has remained silent on the team's return. A planned public celebration for the squad was canceled once officials realized the scope of the disappearances. Instead, the Eritrean Sport and Culture Commission shared photos of the returning players during a brief stopover in Cairo, though the images notably excluded those who failed to return.
This incident follows a long-standing trend of Eritrean athletes seeking asylum while traveling for international competitions. Rights groups frequently cite the country’s repressive political climate as the primary driver for these departures. Hundreds of thousands of Eritreans have sought asylum abroad in recent years.
Past incidents involving the national team are well-documented. In 2019, seven players from the under-20 side went missing in Uganda, and 10 senior players refused to return from Botswana in 2015. In 2009, nearly the entire senior team remained in Kenya, with only the coach and a single official returning to Eritrea.
