Seven Eritrean footballers go missing after historic win in Eswatini

Seven members of Eritrea’s national football team have disappeared following an international match in Eswatini, according to reports by the BBC and other media outlets.

The players failed to return home after last week’s fixture, in which Eritrea secured a historic 2–1 victory over Eswatini. The win gave Eritrea a 4–1 aggregate success and a place in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group stages for the first time in 19 years.

While some of their teammates travelled back via neighbouring South Africa, the seven are believed to have absconded. Of the current 24‑man squad, only 10 players were based in Eritrea – and just three of those have now returned.

The incident is the latest in a series of similar defections involving Eritrean sports delegations in recent years. Athletes and footballers from the Horn of Africa nation have previously gone missing during international fixtures abroad, often seeking asylum or better opportunities elsewhere.

Eritrea’s football team had defied expectations to reach the qualifying group stage, celebrating a rare triumph on the pitch. However, the joy of that achievement has now been overshadowed by the disappearance of nearly a third of the squad.

Authorities in Eswatini and regional officials have not yet released official statements on the matter. The Eritrean government has a longstanding policy of conscription and strict controls on emigration, which has driven many citizens – including athletes – to flee while representing their country overseas.