On March 31, the Eritrean national football team traveled to Swaziland to face the Swazi side as part of Eritrea’s first campaign to participate in AFCON since 2008. Eritrea secured ⁠a spot in the 2027 AFCON group stage qualifiers by stunning Swaziland 2-1 at the Somhlolo National Stadium in the Swazi capital Mbabane.

The Eritrean squad included 10 players, but only three of them returned home. Seven players absconded during the team’s transit in South Africa en route to Eritrea via Egypt.

More than 60 players have defected since 2009. To prevent “embarrassing” defections, Eritrea’s regime frequently withdraws from major tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Under Isaias Afwerki’s regime, absolute control outweighs national prestige, and sporting heroes are viewed as flight risks. For local footballers, international sporting events are opportunities to escape both conscription into indefinite national service akin to forced labor and an ultra repressive one-party militarized state where fundamental freedoms and rights are absent.