Seven Eritrean Players Disappear After International Victory

A team insider has informed the BBC that seven members of Eritrea’s football team, which triumphed in Eswatini last week, have not returned home. While other teammates traveled back from South Africa, these seven players are said to have vanished without explanation. This incident echoes past patterns of Eritrean athletes failing to return after competing abroad, a trend that has persisted for years.

Eritrea’s government faces accusations of harsh policies, with human rights groups labeling it as oppressive. The authorities dispute these claims. Despite its small population, the country has seen thousands seek asylum overseas. The players’ disappearance will be a setback for the squad, which had just secured a return to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying stages after a 2-1 win in Eswatini and a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Only ten of the 24-player squad were stationed in Eritrea, and just three, including captain Ablelom Teklezghi, have since arrived back, sources in Asmara noted. The whereabouts of the missing seven remain unclear, though reports suggest some are in South Africa. Among those who went missing are goalkeeper Kubrom Solomon and veteran winger Medhanie Redie.

“State media has remained silent on the team’s return, which typically draws significant attention,” a source said. “Preparations for a grand welcome were canceled after the players disappeared.”

Eritrea’s Sport and Culture Commission spokesperson shared images of returning players and staff in Egypt, where the embassy and local community members hosted a reception. The group stopped in Cairo before flying to Asmara. However, the photos only featured those who eventually came home, leaving the seven missing players unseen in the official records.

Over the past two decades, Eritrean football has been affected by repeated absences. In 2009, the senior team failed to return from Kenya. Two years prior, 15 players and their doctor fled to Uganda after a World Cup qualifier. In 2015, 10 senior squad members refused to go home after a match in Botswana. The latest incident mirrors these events, raising concerns among fans who had hoped the Eswatini victory would mark a new era for the sport.

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