Eritrea is ending an 18-year break from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). On Wednesday, they will play Eswatini in Meknes, Morocco. This match is the first qualifier for the 2027 tournament.
The game was moved from East Africa to Morocco because Eritrea does not have a stadium that meets international standards. Eswatini will host the return match on March 31. The winner will move on to the group stage, which starts in September.
Why the Long Absence?
Eritrea, known as the Red Sea Camels, has not played in the AFCON since a 2008 qualifier against Swaziland. Officials have not given a reason for their absence from nine tournaments. However, many believe it's because players often seek asylum when they travel abroad.
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Start Your News DetoxThe United Nations estimates that about 80 Eritrean footballers and coaches have left the country. They cite political repression and long military service as key reasons. Eritrea has been led by President Isaias Afwerki since 1993. Human rights groups describe his rule as "highly repressive."
Paulos Andemariam, President of the Eritrean National Football Federation, confirmed the return to AFCON. He said, "After positive discussions with our government, we have registered to play in the 2027 AFCON." He expects a strong team, including many Eritreans who play outside Africa.
Hesham Yakan, a former Egyptian defender, recently became the new head coach. He replaced Ermias Tewelde.
The Team and Challenges
The 24-man squad includes 10 local players and Eritreans from various countries like Australia, England, and Germany. Siem Eyob-Abraha, who was part of Manchester United's youth squad, is now with Sheffield United. He and Ali Sulieman, a striker based in Egypt, are expected to start against Eswatini. Eswatini has tried to qualify for the Cup of Nations 16 times but has never succeeded.
Yakan praises Sulieman, calling him "a quick, left-footed striker who has been scoring regularly in Egypt and also creating goals."
Eritrea faces a challenge due to a lack of recent match practice. Their last competitive international game was a World Cup qualifier seven years ago. Because of this inactivity, FIFA has removed Eritrea from its national team rankings. Eswatini is currently ranked 46th in Africa and 159th globally.
Sifiso Ntibane is the new coach for Eswatini. This will be their third match against Eritrea. The previous two, in 2008, both ended in a goalless draw.
Other preliminary ties also face stadium issues. Djibouti, Seychelles, Lesotho, and Sao Tome e Principe cannot play at home. Somalia has moved its first leg against Mauritius to Maputo, Mozambique, due to security concerns.
Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will co-host the 2027 Cup of Nations.
