Seven Eritrean Players Abscond After AFCON Qualifier Win

Following Eritrea's 2-1 victory over Eswatini in an AFCON qualifier, seven players from the Eritrean national football team absconded in South Africa. The team had traveled back via South Africa after securing a 4-1 aggregate victory, marking their return to the Africa Cup of Nations group stage for the first time in 19 years.

Out of the 24-man squad, only three players, including team captain Abelem Teklezghi, managed to return to Eritrea, while the whereabouts of the missing players, including goalkeeper Kubrom Solomon and veteran winger Medhani Redi, remain unclear. Reports indicate that the players were last seen in South Africa.

The incident has cast a shadow over the team's achievement, with Eritrean state media largely silent on the matter. This situation reflects a broader trend, as several Eritrean athletes have previously failed to return home after international competitions, including incidents in Uganda and Botswana.