Seven Eritrea players reported missing in South Africa after AFCON qualification

Seven players from the Eritrean national team have been reported missing in South Africa after helping the side qualify for the group stage of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The players were part of the squad that secured a 2-1 victory over Eswatini in the second leg of the preliminary round, a result that confirmed Eritrea’s progress in the competition.

However, not all members of the delegation returned home following the match.

Out of ten players who had been selected from the domestic league, only three—Ablelom Teklezgi, Nahom Tadese, and Romel Abdu—have gone back to Eritrea.

The remaining seven have not returned, prompting concern and raising questions about their whereabouts.

The circumstances surrounding their disappearance remain unclear.

Reports indicate that the players stayed behind in South Africa after the conclusion of the fixture, but no official explanation has been provided for their absence.

According to the newspaper Micky Jnr, the players may have “run away.”

The report suggests that they refused to return to their country after the match, though no further details have been confirmed.

The incident has drawn attention not only because of its timing—coming immediately after a significant sporting achievement—but also because of similar occurrences in the past.

Eritrea’s national team, often referred to as the Red Sea Boys, has previously experienced comparable situations involving players failing to return after trips abroad.

Since 2006, there have been multiple instances in which members of the Eritrean squad have not gone back to the country following training camps or international fixtures.

These repeated cases have become a recurring issue linked to the team’s participation in competitions outside its borders.

The latest development follows a positive moment on the pitch.

Eritrea’s win against Eswatini represented a notable step forward, securing qualification for the group stage of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The match itself ended 2-1 in favour of Eritrea, completing their task in the preliminary round.

Despite the achievement, the focus has shifted away from the result to the situation involving the missing players.

The absence of seven squad members has overshadowed what would otherwise have been a moment of progress for the team.

The identities of the missing players, beyond the confirmation of those who returned, have not been publicly detailed in the available reports.

Efforts to determine their status and location are ongoing, although information remains limited.

The incident also highlights the challenges that can arise when teams travel internationally, particularly for countries that have previously encountered similar situations.

🚨 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆:

Seven (7) players from the Eritrean national team have reportedly 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 in South Africa, refusing to return after helping Eritrea reach the AFCON qualifying group stage for the first time in 19 years. 🇪🇷

Out of 10 local-based players, only three… pic.twitter.com/w57TBQHNg2

— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) April 5, 2026

The repetition of such cases since 2006 suggests an ongoing pattern that continues to affect the national side.

For Eritrea, the immediate priority remains understanding what has happened to the players who did not return.

At the same time, the team’s qualification for the next stage of the Africa Cup of Nations stands as a significant sporting outcome, even as it is overshadowed by the current uncertainty.

As the situation develops, further details may emerge regarding the reasons behind the players’ disappearance.

For now, the case remains unresolved, with questions continuing to surround the events that followed the team’s victory in South Africa.