Eritrea announced a remarkable return to international football with a commanding 2-0 victory over Eswatini in the opening match of the preliminary round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, played in Morocco in March 2026.
Making their first appearance in nearly two decades, the Red Sea Camels delivered a disciplined and determined performance under new head coach Hesham Yakan. Eritrea last featured in AFCON qualification during the 2008 campaign, before a prolonged absence caused by player defections and administrative inactivity.
Their long-awaited comeback was sealed with two late goals from Eyob-Abraha and Suleiman, securing an advantage ahead of the return leg. The squad, carefully assembled with a blend of 12 home-based players and 14 members of the diaspora, has been training in Morocco as part of its renewed push onto the continental stage.
Eritrea and Eswatini are now set to face off again in the second leg next Tuesday in Eswatini, where the visitors will aim to preserve their lead and advance to the next phase of the competition.
The preliminary round will see six teams progress to join 42 other Member Associations in the group stage of the qualifiers for the 2027 tournament. The next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, with the competition expected to take place in June or July 2027.
Elsewhere in the preliminary round fixtures, Burundi recorded an emphatic 4-0 away victory over Chad, Ethiopia secured a 3-0 win against São Tomé & Príncipe, while Somalia and Mauritius played out a goalless draw.
As the qualifiers get underway, Eritrea’s resurgence stands out as one of the early stories of the campaign, signaling a potential new chapter for a vountry eager to re-establish its presence in African football.