AFCON Qualifiers: Eritrea Return in Style After 18-Year Hiatus

AFCON Qualifiers: Eritrea Return in Style After 18-Year Hiatus

By Niyi Busari 

Eritrea marked a significant return to continental football on Wednesday, defeating Eswatini 2–0 in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixture to end an 18-year absence from the competition, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Former Manchester United youth striker Siem Eyob-Abraha was among the scorers as Eritrea secured a comfortable first-leg advantage. The match was played in Meknes, Morocco, due to Eritrea’s lack of an international-standard stadium.

Eritrea last participated in AFCON qualifying in 2008 but subsequently withdrew from the next nine editions without official explanation. The prolonged absence has widely been attributed to a series of player defections during overseas trips.

According to estimates by the United Nations, around 80 Eritrean footballers and coaches sought asylum abroad, citing political repression and mandatory national service as key factors.

The country has been under the leadership of Isaias Afwerki since gaining independence from Ethiopia in 1993, with international human rights organisations frequently criticising the government’s record.

Ahead of the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco, Eritrean Football Federation president Paulos Andemariam confirmed the nation’s intention to rejoin continental competition, following discussions with government authorities.

He expressed optimism about the team’s prospects, noting the inclusion of players from the Eritrean diaspora as part of a renewed push to rebuild the national side.

The team is now coached by Hesham Yakan, a former Zamalek SC defender and member of Egypt’s 1990 FIFA World Cup squad. Yakan named a 24-man squad featuring 14 foreign-based players.

The return leg is scheduled for March 31 in Eswatini, with the aggregate winner advancing to the group stage of the qualifiers, set to run from September to November.

The 2027 AFCON tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—the first time three nations will jointly stage the competition.