Eritrea Ends 18-Year AFCON Absence Against Eswatini

Eritrea is set to return to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after an 18-year absence, facing Eswatini in a preliminary match on Wednesday at Stade d'Honneur in Morocco. This first leg tie is crucial for Eritrea, who last qualified for the tournament in 2008.

The return leg is scheduled for March 31, with the aggregate winner progressing to the group stage of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. The Eritrean Football Federation, led by President Paulo Andemariam, confirmed this return under new leadership, with coach Hesham Yakan, who replaced Ermias Teweld.

Eritrea's long absence has been linked to political repression and the defection of players seeking asylum. The team, nicknamed the Red Sea Camels, has faced challenges, including FIFA's removal of their global ranking due to inactivity.

Eswatini, ranked 46th in Africa and 159th globally, has also struggled in previous qualification attempts, failing in 16 campaigns.