Eritrea to resume Africa Cup of Nations competition after 18-year absence

Eritrea to Host Eswatini in AFCON Qualifier on Wednesday

Eritrea will host Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, in a Moroccan city on Wednesday in the first qualifier for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament. The match is scheduled to take place at the Stade d’Honneur in Meknes.

The preliminary round has been moved from East to North Africa due to Eritrea’s lack of an international-standard venue. Eswatini will stage the return match on March 31, and the aggregate winners will advance to the group stage.

Eritrea has not participated in the AFCON since a 2008 qualifier in Swaziland. The country’s absence from subsequent tournaments is attributed to players seeking asylum while playing abroad. According to the United Nations, approximately 80 footballers and coaches have defected due to political repression and lengthy military service.

The Eritrean National Football Federation has announced its participation in the 2027 AFCON, with President Paulos Andemariam stating that the team will feature many players from outside Africa. The local head coach, Hesham Yakan, has selected a 24-man squad for the match, including 10 locals and Eritreans playing abroad.

Eswatini’s coach, Sifiso Ntibane, has chosen 13 locals and seven players from South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe for the match. The previous two matches between the teams ended goalless in 2008 Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The first leg is part of five preliminary ties, with Djibouti, Seychelles, Lesotho, Sao Tome e Principe, and Somalia unable to host due to inadequate stadiums or security concerns.

Source: Al Jazeera