Eritrea made a stunning comeback to international football with a 2–0 victory over Eswatini on Wednesday, kicking off their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in impressive fashion.
The East African side had been absent from the international scene since January 2020, when they lost a friendly to Sudan.
Their latest appearance also marks their first involvement in AFCON qualifying in nearly two decades.
Facing Eswatini in a two-legged preliminary round, Eritrea seized control late in the match.
They broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute, converting from a corner in a crowded penalty area, before Ali Sulieman—who plays his club football in Egypt—sealed the win with a goal just before full-time.
The squad featured a mix of locally based players and diaspora talent drawn from leagues in Australia, Germany, Norway, and Sweden.
The team is currently under the guidance of former Egyptian international Hesham Yakan, who only recently took charge.
Due to the lack of a CAF-approved stadium in Eritrea, the match was played at a neutral venue in Morocco.
The return leg is scheduled to take place in Eswatini on Tuesday.
Eritrea’s football history has been shaped by long periods of isolation.
Over the years, several players have defected during international trips, with incidents recorded across multiple countries.
These challenges contributed to the nation stepping back from sending teams abroad after 2019, but recent developments suggest a renewed willingness to compete internationally.
This preliminary round features the 12 lowest-ranked African teams in the FIFA rankings, battling for six available spots in the main qualifying stage.
The winners will join 42 higher-ranked nations in the group phase, which begins in September.
From there, teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the tournament.
However, special consideration will apply in groups featuring co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, who have already secured qualification for the 2027 finals.
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