Political situation the reason?
After the qualifying game: seven national players disappear
April 6, 2026 – 4:34 p.mReading time: 1 min.
They win – and then disappear: seven national players disappear after a qualifying game.
After the important 2-1 victory in the second leg over Eswatini in the qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations, seven players from Eritrea apparently disappeared in South Africa. As “The Star” and “Foot Africa” report, the players have not returned to their homeland. The Eritrean team reached the qualifying group stage after a 2-0 win in the first leg and success in the second leg. For the first time in almost two decades, Eritrea is taking part in the Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
Nevertheless, only three of the ten players active domestically traveled back: Ablum Teklezgi, Nahom Tadesse and Rommel Abdu. The whereabouts of the remaining seven players are unclear.
There is no official information about the reasons. However, according to African sports journalist Micky Junior, it may have been a conscious decision by the players not to return to Eritrea.
The incident is not an isolated incident. The national team, also known as the “Red Sea Boys”, has been affected by similar cases in the past. Since 2006, several players have reportedly not returned home after traveling abroad. “The Star” reports that over 60 players did not get back on the plane back home.
Observers also see political backgrounds in this. Eritrea has been criticized for years for human rights violations and restricted freedoms. International assignments often enable athletes to stay abroad permanently.
