Seven players from the Eritrean national team have disappeared after a match played in Eswatini

Seven players of the Eritrean national football team have gone missing after participating in a qualifying match for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Lobamba, Eswatini. According to a representative of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the incident is considered a mystery, as Eritrea defeated Eswatini on March 31, and no one knows exactly what happened afterward. It is believed that the players left Eswatini to head to South Africa, where the team was to make a stop before returning to Egypt. However, upon arrival in Cairo, several players were missing. A member of the Eritrean community in South Africa stated that he saw some of the players in Johannesburg but refused to provide further details for security reasons.

The United Nations estimates that, in the last two decades, approximately 80 Eritreans involved in football have defected during international competitions. Indefinite military service, in effect in Eritrea since 1993, is considered a major factor in these defections. The missing players were part of a squad of ten internationals selected for the match, with the rest of the players being active in foreign leagues.