Seven Eritrea National Team Players Refused to Return to the Country After a Match in South Africa

^{Pictured: The Eritrean national football team}

Seven Eritrea national team players did not return home after a match in South Africa, Foot Africa reported.

The incident followed a preliminary-round qualifier for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations against Eswatini, which took place on March 31. Eritrea won 2–1, securing a place in the group stage for the first time in 19 years.

After the match, several players did not travel back with the team and remained in South Africa.

No official reasons have been disclosed, though the players are believed to have chosen not to return to their home country.

All of the missing players are reported to play for clubs in Eritrea’s domestic league.

Such incidents are not uncommon for the Eritrean national team. Since 2006, there have been multiple similar cases. In 2009, 12 players failed to return from Kenya after a regional tournament, while in 2012, 17 team members remained in Uganda under similar circumstances.

Eritrea, an East African country on the Red Sea coast, is widely regarded as one of the most closed states in the world. It operates under strict government control, with limited political freedoms and tight restrictions on movement. International human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns over indefinite military service and limits on citizens’ ability to leave the country.

Earlier, Gambling Park reported that the Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy match had been caught up in a “spy” scandal.