Seven members of Eritrea’s national football team have gone missing following their recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches, officials and community sources confirmed. The incident occurred as the squad traveled back to Eritrea from Eswatini via South Africa and Egypt.

According to a Confederation of African Football (CAF) official who declined to be named, only three of the 10 locally based players on the Eritrean squad returned to the country after the team defeated Eswatini in a two-leg preliminary qualifier on March 31. The seven missing players reportedly disappeared after the team made a transit stop in South Africa en route to Egypt. The official explained that the whereabouts of these players remain uncertain, describing the situation as "a mystery."

A member of the Eritrean diaspora in Johannesburg confirmed having seen some of the missing footballers in the South African city but withheld further details out of concern for their safety. The missing players include goalkeepers Kibrom Solomon and Awet Maharena, defenders Wedeb Fessehaye, Yosief Tsegay, and Nahom Awet, as well as veteran midfielder Medhane Redie and striker Amanuel Benhur.

Those who returned to Eritrea were captain Ablelom Teklezghi, midfielder Nahom Tadese, and striker Romel Abdu. The defection aligns with a longstanding pattern, as numerous Eritrean footballers, including players, coaches, and officials, have previously vanished during international travel. The United Nations estimates that about 80 Eritrean football personnel have defected over the past two decades.

These defections are widely attributed to Eritrea’s national policies, particularly the country's indefinite military conscription following the completion of schooling. Human rights organizations label the Eritrean government under President Isaias Afwerki—who has ruled since independence from Ethiopia in 1993—as severely repressive. Afwerki disputes such characterizations, describing them as unfounded during a state visit to Kenya three years ago.

The recent qualifiers represent a significant milestone for Eritrean football. Newly appointed coach Hesham Yakan, a former Egypt national team defender, selected a 24-player squad for the preliminary round against Eswatini, including 14 based outside Eritrea in countries such as Australia, Egypt, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, and Sweden.

Eritrea secured a 2-0 victory in the second leg, complementing a 2-1 away win in the first leg held in Meknes, Morocco—a venue chosen as Eritrea lacks a stadium meeting international standards. This marked Eritrea’s first AFCON qualifier since 2007, a year after which the team has participated in multiple World Cup qualification campaigns and regional tournaments.

Throughout such international competitions, it has become common for both senior and youth Eritrean players to disappear and seek asylum during travel abroad, reflecting ongoing challenges within the country’s political and social framework.