Seven Eritrean national soccer team players have gone missing . They reportedly ran away in South Africa and refused to return home.
Eritrean national soccer team has been in South Africa playing 2027 AFCON preliminary qualifiers. It qualified for the AFCON group stage for the first time in 19 years. It defeated Eswatini 4-1. Following three players have returned to Eritrea, seven are missing:
— Ablelom Teklezgi
— Nahom Tadese
— Romel Abdu
Eritrea is known for one of the worst human rights situation in the world. Tens of thousands of Eritreans flee their country every year due to lack of economic opportunities and political repression. The country, since its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, did not hold a single election. It has only state owned television channel, radio station, and news paper, one each.
Since 2009, more than 60 Eritrean players have fled during international matches. That is why Eritrean Football Federation withdrew from major competitions such as the World Cup and AFCON qualifiers. Eritrea did not play a competitive match abroad since 2019, as authorities fear that players will not not return.
