Eritrea are set to end an 18-year absence from Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying when they face Eswatini on Wednesday in a preliminary round match played in Morocco.
The tie, which marks the East African nation’s first involvement in the continent’s premier international football competition since 2008, will take place at the 20,000-capacity Stade d’Honneur in Meknes. The fixture has been relocated from Eritrea due to the country’s lack of a standard stadium.
The match represents the first leg of a two-legged preliminary round, with the return fixture scheduled for 31 March in Eswatini. The overall winner on aggregate will progress to the group stage of qualifying, which is due to begin in September and will feature 12 groups of four teams.
Eritrea, nicknamed the Red Sea Camels, last featured in AFCON qualifying when they played out a draw in 2008 against Eswatini, then known as Swaziland. Since then, the team has not taken part in nine successive editions of the tournament, without any official explanation from football authorities.
However, the absence has widely been linked to concerns over players seeking asylum while travelling abroad for matches. According to estimates from the United Nations, around 80 Eritrean footballers and coaches have defected over the years.
Reports suggest that political repression and the country’s system of prolonged military service have been key factors influencing such decisions.
Eritrea has been under the leadership of President Isaias Afwerki since gaining independence from Ethiopia in 1993. Human rights organisations have consistently described his government as “highly repressive”.
Despite this history, Eritrean football authorities have recently signalled a renewed commitment to international competition. Speaking in Morocco ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Eritrean National Football Federation president Paulos Andemariam confirmed the country’s intention to return to the continental stage.
“After positive discussions with our government, we have registered to play in the 2027 AFCON, and I believe we will have a strong team, including many Eritreans playing outside Africa,” he said.
The decision to rejoin AFCON qualifying marks a significant step for Eritrean football, which has remained largely absent from the international scene for nearly two decades. The upcoming matches will not only test the team’s competitiveness but also signal a potential shift in the country’s sporting engagement with the rest of Africa.
For Eswatini, the tie offers an opportunity to advance into the main phase of qualification, while for Eritrea it represents a long-awaited return and a chance to re-establish itself within African football.
As the two sides meet in Meknes, the focus will be on the pitch, but the broader significance of Eritrea’s re-entry into continental competition is likely to resonate far beyond the result.
