Seven Eritrean Players Went Missing After Winning the Qualifier for the Africa Cup of Nations

After their team won the home and away matches, players disappeared according to their coach

Soccer players go missing

Last week, following the Eritrean national team's victory over Eswatini in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, seven players went missing, as confirmed by the team's coach, Hesham Yakan.

They win again after years of not participating

This is the first time the Egyptian national team has participated in the AFCON qualifiers since 2008, after its teams were banned from traveling abroad in response to the defection of several players from the U-20 national team in Uganda in 2019. The players in question have been missing since the return leg on March 31, and Hesham Yakan told Reuters about the situation of these players: “Most of them are substitute players,” added the former Egyptian defender and coach. “I don't think they will continue playing soccer.”

Eritrea won both legs

There were no comments from Gebremeskel, the Minister of Information. Eritrea won the first leg 2-0 in Morocco, as it does not have a stadium that meets the requirements of the Confederation of African Football. The return leg was played in Eswatini, where Eritrea secured an aggregate 4-1 victory, fielding players from various European and Oceanian leagues