Eritrea’s AFCON Breakthrough Overshadowed by Player Disappearances

Eritrea has achieved a major football milestone by qualifying for the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in nearly two decades, following a decisive 4–1 aggregate victory.

However, the achievement has been eclipsed by reports that several players failed to return after the match. While part of the squad traveled back via South Africa, a number of players are believed to have remained abroad, with only a small group—mainly those based outside Eritrea—returning to Asmara.

Among those reportedly missing are goalkeeper Kubrom Solomon and winger Medhanie Redie, while captain Ablelom Teklezghi is among the few confirmed to have returned. State media has remained largely silent, and planned celebrations were reportedly canceled.

The incident reflects a long-standing pattern, with previous cases of Eritrean players and teams not returning from international competitions.

Human rights organizations have consistently raised concerns about conditions in Eritrea, linking such incidents to broader migration trends—allegations the government rejects.

For many supporters, the historic qualification has been overshadowed by renewed attention to an issue that continues to affect the country’s football and international image.

Source: Newstimehub