Seven Eritrean National Team Players Vanish After AFCON Qualifier Victory

A shocking development has emerged from African football after seven members of Eritrea's national team disappeared following their successful AFCON qualifying match against Eswatini on March 31st.

According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, the context is critical: "These players are poor. It was their first time flying." That single statement captures the reality behind what unfolded after the victory.

Head coach Hesham Yakan, speaking to Reuters, confirmed the disappearances and expressed little hope of seeing these footballers return to the sport. The majority of those who vanished were substitute players who likely saw an opportunity they couldn't pass up.

"I do not think they will continue playing football," Yakan stated plainly. His assessment is that the players have pursued economic opportunities in more prosperous nations — a decision that becomes understandable given Eritrea's circumstances.

A nation with strict travel restrictions

This marks Eritrea's first participation in AFCON qualifying since 2008, following years of self-imposed isolation. The government had previously implemented a complete ban on national team international travel, a policy enacted after several under-20 players fled to Uganda back in 2019. History has now repeated itself, though this time at the senior level and involving more players.

The current squad includes players residing in Australia, Germany, Norway, and Sweden — diaspora members who returned to represent their homeland despite having already relocated abroad. Due to Eritrea lacking a stadium that meets CAF's international match standards, the first leg took place in Morocco. The team secured a convincing 4-1 aggregate victory. Shortly after, seven players disappeared without a trace.

George Ghebreslassie, an Eritrean exile who operates a support organization for Eritrean refugees, expressed little surprise at the news. "It happens quite a lot," he explained. "It shows the kind of situation we have in Eritrea. We thought things would change, but nothing has changed. People have become hopeless in their own country."

Implications for Eritrea's qualifying campaign

Eritrea's Minister of Information has declined to provide any statement on the matter. The national football federation has remained silent as well. Yakan — a former Egyptian international who competed at the 1990 World Cup — now faces the challenge of managing a depleted squad that shrank overnight without warning.

The nation has been governed by President Isaias Afwerki since gaining independence in 1993. International human rights organizations have repeatedly characterized his administration as among the most authoritarian on the African continent. With this background, the disappearances aren't surprising — they're almost predictable.

Despite advancing from their qualifying group, serious questions remain about whether Eritrea can maintain a stable squad for future rounds. Federation officials have shown no willingness to address these concerns publicly, leaving the football program's future uncertain.