Eritrea Returns to AFCON Qualifiers After 18 Years

Eritrea's national football team marked its return to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after an 18-year hiatus by defeating Eswatini 2-0 in a match held in Morocco. This victory is significant as it represents Eritrea's first participation in the AFCON qualifiers since 2008, when the team withdrew from subsequent competitions due to player defections during overseas trips and political repression linked to mandatory national service.

The Eritrean Football Federation, led by President Paulo Andemariam, confirmed the country's return to continental competition, emphasizing the inclusion of players from the Eritrean diaspora in efforts to rebuild the national team. The current coach, Hesham Yakan, a former Zamalek SC defender and member of Egypt's 1990 FIFA World Cup squad, has named a 24-man roster that includes 14 foreign-based players.

The return leg of the qualifiers is scheduled for March 31, with the aggregate winner advancing to the group stage of the AFCON tournament, set to run from September to November 2027, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.