Eritrea marked its return to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group stage after 19 years by holding Kenya to a 1-1 draw in Nairobi.
The Red Sea Camels looked on course for a remarkable victory after Nahom Girmai put them ahead in the 36th minute, but Kenya equalised in the 87th minute at the Nyayo Stadium.
The result is all the more striking given the circumstances surrounding Eritrean football. Since gaining independence in 1993, the country has been led by President Isaias Afwerki, while the regime has faced repeated criticism over its authoritarian rule, indefinite military service and restrictions on civil liberties.
The national team has been directly affected. International trips have frequently provided players with opportunities to leave the country. In 2015, 10 internationals failed to return after a match in Botswana, while seven more disappeared in Uganda during the 2019 CECAFA Cup. More than 60 players are reported to have sought asylum abroad since 2009.
Eritrea subsequently almost vanished from the international scene and withdrew from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers amid fears of further defections.
The team returned in March, when it played its first Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches since 2007 and beat Eswatini 4-1 on aggregate over two legs.
The Eritrean Football Federation relied heavily on a diaspora spread across the world. Among those called up were Nahom Girmai and Tesfalidet Tekie, who play in Sweden’s top division, alongside players based in the Netherlands, Egypt, Australia and less prominent leagues.
However, the team’s progress was quickly overshadowed by another departure. After the victory over Eswatini, seven of the 10 players based in Eritrea did not return to Asmara from South Africa. Only three locally based players are believed to have gone home.
That left a significant gap in the squad. Against Kenya, only captain Ablelom Teklezghim of Red Sea and striker Romel Abdu of Denden represented the domestic league. They were joined by a largely diaspora-based group, including players from lower divisions in Europe and leagues far from the international spotlight.
Despite those limitations, Eritrea frustrated Kenya with a disciplined, compact display and threat on the counter-attack. They capitalised on weaknesses in an underwhelming home side and came within three minutes of a historic win.
Goalkeeper Yonathan Sultan was central to the performance. The 19-year-old, who plays in the third division in the United Arab Emirates, was promoted to the starting line-up after Kibrom Salomon’s defection in March and made several important saves to preserve Eritrea’s lead.
In the circumstances, a point carried the feel of a victory.
The remaining challenge is considerably tougher. Eritrea are in a group with Kenya, Guinea and South Africa, but they cannot play at home because no stadium in Asmara has been approved by the CAF.
Their next fixture is against South Africa in Egypt, where avoiding defeat would already represent a major achievement.
After 19 years away from the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group stage, six years without an official match, a squad rebuilt through its diaspora and a fresh wave of defections, Eritrea remain in contention. For the Red Sea Camels, very little may now seem impossible.
