Eritrea’s 2027 AFCON hopes endure after remarkable Kenya draw

Nineteen years after their last appearance in the group stage of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, Eritrea returned with a notable 1-1 draw against Kenya in Nairobi.

The Red Sea Camels led from the 36th minute through Nahom Girmai and held on until Kenya equalised in the 87th minute, coming within three minutes of a historic victory against one of the three co-hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The significance of the result is underlined by the circumstances surrounding Eritrean football. When the country last played in the group stage of qualifying, players including Ayyoub Bouaddi, Ibrahim Mbaye and Mamadou Sangare had not yet been born.

Eritrea has been independent since 1993 and has had one president, Isaias Afwerki. His government is frequently criticised for its authoritarianism, an extremely harsh and indefinite period of military service, and severe restrictions on civil liberties.

The national team has been directly affected. International trips have repeatedly provided opportunities for players to leave the country. Ten internationals refused to return after a match in Botswana in 2015, while seven more disappeared in Uganda during the 2019 CECAFA Cup. More than 60 players are believed to have sought asylum abroad since 2009.

Those departures contributed to the Red Sea Camels’ near disappearance from international football. Eritrea withdrew from the 2026 World Cup qualifying competition amid concerns that further players could defect.

Their return began in March. In their first Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches since 2007, Eritrea beat Eswatini 4-1 on aggregate over two legs.

The Eritrean Football Federation drew heavily on a diaspora spread across the world. Among those called up were Nahom Girmai and Tesfalidet Tekie, who play in the Swedish top flight, alongside players based in the Netherlands, Egypt, Australia and less prominent leagues elsewhere.

Even that successful return was followed by another blow. After the victory, seven of the 10 players based in Eritrea failed to return to Asmara from South Africa. Only three locally based players are believed to have gone back.

That left captain Ablelom Teklezghim of Red Sea and forward Romel Abdu of Denden as the only representatives of the domestic league against Kenya. They were joined by a distinctive squad made up of diaspora players, some competing in lower divisions in Europe or distant leagues away from the spotlight.

Yet the reshaped side stood firm at the Nyayo Stadium. Disciplined and compact, Eritrea threatened on the counter-attack and took advantage of Kenya’s weaknesses.

Goalkeeper Yonathan Sultan was central to their resistance. The 19-year-old, who plays in the third division in the United Arab Emirates, became the starter after Kibrom Salomon’s departure in March and produced a heroic display in Nairobi.

The point is almost a victory in the circumstances, although the next challenge will be considerably tougher. Eritrea’s group also contains Guinea and South Africa, and without a CAF-approved stadium in Asmara, the team must continue to play its home matches away from its supporters.

Their next fixture is against South Africa in Egypt, where avoiding defeat would represent another major achievement.

After 19 years away from the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group stage, six years without an official match, a squad rebuilt through the diaspora and a new wave of departures, Eritrea remain in contention. For the Red Sea Camels, very little now appears impossible.