Eritrea national football team

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This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Eritrea women's national football team.
This article contains several patronymic names rather than family names. These persons are addressed by their given name, and not by their inherited name.
Eritrea
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Red Sea Camels[1][2]
Associationሃገራዊ ፈደረሽን ኩፅሶ እግሪ ኤርትራ
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCECAFA
(East & Central Africa)
Head coachAlemseged Efrem
CaptainRobel Teklemichael[3]
Most capsYidnekachew Shimangus (22)
Top scorerBerhane Aregai
Yonas Fesehaye
Yidnekachew Shimangus (5)
Home stadiumCicero Stadium
FIFA codeERI
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 202 Steady (10 February 2022)[4]
Highest121[5] (August 2007)
Lowest207 (April–May 2018, September 2019)
First international
Pre-independence
 Sudan 1–1 Eritrea Ethiopia
(Khartoum, Sudan; 26 June 1992)
Post-independence
 Seychelles 0–1 Eritrea 
(Mumias, Kenya; 29 November 1994)
Biggest win
 Kenya 1–4 Eritrea 
(Kampala, Uganda; 17 December 2019)
 Djibouti 0–3 Eritrea 
(Kampala, Uganda; 13 December 2019)
Biggest defeat
 Angola 6–1 Eritrea 
(Luanda, Angola; 25 March 2007)
 Ghana 5–0 Eritrea 
(Accra, Ghana; 28 February 1999)

The Eritrea national football team (Tigrinya: ጋንታ ኩዕሶ እግሪ አርትራ) represents Eritrea in men's international football and it is controlled by the Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF). It is nicknamed the Red Sea Boys. It has never qualified for the finals of the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. Local side Red Sea FC are the main supplier for the national team, The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

History[]

An Eritrean team participated in a friendly tournament in Sudan in 1992, the year before Eritrea achieved independence.[7] Eritrea participated in the 1994 CECAFA Cup, organised by the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association,[7] even though the ENFF was not founded until 1996.[8] The first full international was in the 1999 CECAFA Cup,[7][9] the year after the ENFF joined the CAF[10] and FIFA.[8] They participated in the qualifying rounds of the 2000 African Cup of Nations and the 2002 World Cup, and subsequent editions until 2008.[7] They have also appeared intermittently in the CECAFA Cup.[7][11]

In the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Eritrea managed a scoreless home draw versus Cameroon and a 1–0 home win over Mozambique. They finished second in their three team group, and advanced to a playoff round where they faced Senegal and Zimbabwe, but ultimately lost all four matches in that final stage.

In the first round of the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup, they were drawn against Nigeria, and were defeated 4–0 in the away leg,[12] after a goalless draw at home.[13] The coach was .[12]

In the first round of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, Sudan was Eritrea's first round opponent. Eritrea lost the first leg 3–0,[14] before another goalless draw in Asmara.[15] The coach was Eritrean Tekie Abraha.[14][15]

In group 6 of the qualifiers for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, under the guidance of Romanian Dorian Marin, Eritrea finished second behind Angola, failing to qualify for the final tournament. They beat Kenya twice and drew at home to Angola.

In the first round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Eritrea faced Rwanda. The first leg in Asmara ended in a 1–1 draw (and saw Eritrea's first ever goal in a World Cup qualification match), but Rwanda took the second leg by a score of 3–1.

Recent years have seen a high number of refugees leaving Eritrea,[16][17] and some athletes travelling to competitions abroad have taken the opportunity to abscond.[18] In December 2012, 17 Eritrean footballers and the team's doctor vanished after the CECAFA championship tournament in Uganda and all applied for asylum in the country.[19][20][21] Four players of Red Sea FC defected after a CAF Champions League 2006 match in Nairobi, Kenya,[22] and up to 12 members of the national side after the 2007 CECAFA Cup in Tanzania.[16][23] Another 6 players sought asylum in Angola in March 2007 after a group 6 qualifying game for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.[24][25] Three more players from the national team sought asylum in Sudan.[26]

Eritrea withdrew from the 2008 CECAFA Cup,[27] and from the common qualifying tournament shared by the 2010 World Cup and the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.[28] Given the number of players seeking asylum, the Eritrean government began requiring athletes to pay a 100,000 nakfa surety before traveling abroad.[22]

Eritrea returned to the 2009 CECAFA Cup in Nairobi. A young squad was assembled with just 12 days' training.[27] In Group B, they gained a surprise draw with Zimbabwe,[29] lost narrowly to Rwanda,[30] and beat Somalia 3–1.[31] They were easily beaten 4–0 in the quarter-finals by Tanzania.[27] Twelve squad members failed to report for the return flight, and sought the assistance of the Refugee Consortium of Kenya.[16][17] They were believed to be in hiding in Eastleigh, an eastern suburb of Nairobi home to many immigrants.[32] Nicholas Musonye, the secretary-general of CECAFA, feared that the government might react by refusing to let the team travel abroad in future.[17] The twelve players were later granted interim asylum by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Kenya.[33] Eleven of these players have since travelled to Adelaide in Australia[34] with two of them, Samuel Ghebrehiwet and Ambes Sium, signing for Gold Coast United in the A-League in August 2011.[35]

In the first round of the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, ten players from the Eritrean football team have refused to return home after playing a World Cup qualifying match in Botswana and have been granted asylum there, officials say.[36]

Results and fixtures[]

Main article: Eritrea national football team results

2022[]

21-29 March 2023 AFCON Q preliminary round Eritrea  v  Botswana Asmara, Eritrea
Stadium: Cicero Stadium
21-29 March 2023 AFCON Q preliminary round Botswana  v  Eritrea Gaborone, Botswana
Stadium: Botswana National Stadium

Coaching history[]

Players[]

Current squad[]

The following players were selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Namibia on 10 September 2019.[citation needed]

Caps and goals correct as of 10 September 2019, after the match against Namibia.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Kibrom Solomon (2000-09-10) 10 September 2000 (age 21) 9 0 Eritrea Denden
13 1GK (1986-01-01) 1 January 1986 (age 36) 3 0 Eritrea Red Sea
2 2DF (1996-11-12) 12 November 1996 (age 25) 8 0 Eritrea Denden
3 2DF (1993-03-24) 24 March 1993 (age 28) 8 0 Eritrea Denden
4 2DF Robel Teklemichael (C) (2000-07-24) 24 July 2000 (age 21) 8 0 Ethiopia Ethiopian Coffee
5 2DF (2000-11-10) 10 November 2000 (age 21) 2 0 Eritrea Red Sea
17 2DF (1996-09-01) 1 September 1996 (age 25) 8 0 Eritrea Red Sea
6 3MF (1996-11-20) 20 November 1996 (age 25) 2 0 Eritrea Denden
7 3MF Yonas Solomon (1994-06-21) 21 June 1994 (age 27) 7 0 Sudan Al Khartoum
8 3MF (1991-05-16) 16 May 1991 (age 30) 3 0 Free agent
11 3MF (1992-12-02) 2 December 1992 (age 29) 0 0 Norway Åsane
14 3MF (1994-02-19) 19 February 1994 (age 28) 0 0 Free agent
23 3MF (1998-05-17) 17 May 1998 (age 23) 1 0 Free agent
16 3MF Mohammed Saeid (1990-12-24) 24 December 1990 (age 31) 1 0 Sweden IK Sirius
18 3MF (1987-01-31) 31 January 1987 (age 35) 0 0 Sweden Sundbybergs IK
19 3MF (1998-06-05) 5 June 1998 (age 23) 0 0 Sweden
9 4FW Henok Goitom (1984-09-22) 22 September 1984 (age 37) 4 1 Sweden AIK
10 4FW Ali Sulieman (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 22) 8 3 Ethiopia Bahir Dar Kenema
12 4FW Ezana Kahsay (1994-11-16) 16 November 1994 (age 27) 1 0 Poland Chełmianka Chełm
15 4FW (1986-09-29) 29 September 1986 (age 35) 0 0 Sweden

Recent call ups[]

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up

Player records[]

As of 22 January 2020
Players in bold are still active with Eritrea.

Competition records[]

CECAFA Cup record[]

Main article: CECAFA Cup
CECAFA Cup
Appearances: 12
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Uganda 1973 to Tanzania 1992 Part of  Ethiopia
Kenya 1994 Fourth place 4th 5 2 1 2 3 2
Uganda 1995 Did not enter
Sudan 1996
Rwanda 1999 Group stage 11th 2 0 0 2 2 6
Uganda 2000 8th 4 0 1 3 4 15
Rwanda 2001 11th 3 0 0 3 3 17
Tanzania 2002 Did not enter
Sudan 2003
Ethiopia 2004
Rwanda 2005 Group stage 10th 4 0 0 4 2 18
Ethiopia 2006 11th 3 0 0 3 0 10
Tanzania 2007 Quarter-finals 8th 4 2 0 2 8 8
Uganda 2008 Group stage 10th 4 0 1 3 2 13
Kenya 2009 12th 3 0 0 3 0 13
Tanzania 2010 Did not enter
Tanzania 2011 Group stage 11th 3 0 0 3 2 10
Uganda 2012 Did not enter
Kenya 2013
Rwanda 2015 Group stage 11th 3 0 0 3 0 9
Kenya 2017 Did not enter
Uganda 2019 Runners-up 2nd 6 3 1 2 8 6
Total 0 Titles 12/40 44 7 4 33 34 127

References[]

  1. ^ "Eritrea Red Sea Boys hold Zanzibar Heroes | EastAFRO.com".
  2. ^ "Team Eritrea: The Red Sea Boys Are Back".
  3. ^ "History Makers: The Red Sea Camels win Silver at the Cecafa Seniors Challenge Cup". shabait.com. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  4. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  5. ^ "FIFA World Ranking". FIFA.com. FIFA. Archived from the original on June 20, 2007. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  6. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 13 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e Courtney, Barrie (31 January 2008). "Eritrea International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Eritrea on FIFA.com". FIFA.com. FIFA. Archived from the original on June 20, 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  9. ^ "Eritrea Matches From 01.01.1872 To 30.11.2010". FIFA. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  10. ^ "Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF)". Cafonline.com. CAF. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  11. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (11 December 2009). "East and Central African Championship (CECAFA)". RSSSF. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  12. ^ a b "First stage: Nigeria – Eritrea 4:0 (2:0)". 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan Preliminaries. FIFA. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  13. ^ "First stage: Eritrea – Nigeria 0:0". 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan Preliminaries. FIFA. Archived from the original on 12 October 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  14. ^ a b "Play-off: Sudan – Eritrea 3:0 (0:0)". 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany Preliminaries. FIFA. Archived from the original on 21 July 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  15. ^ a b "Play-off: Eritrea – Sudan 0:0". 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany Preliminaries. FIFA. Archived from the original on 21 July 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  16. ^ a b c Wyatt, Ben (15 December 2009). "Kenyan police search for missing footballers". London: CNN. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  17. ^ a b c Odula, Tom (15 December 2009). "12 Eritrea soccer players defect during tournament in Kenya; UN will hear case". Canadian Press. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  18. ^ Pflanz, Mike (15 December 2009). "Eritrean football team missing after match in Kenya". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  19. ^ Oryada, Andrew Jackson (5 December 2012). "Eritrean players seek asylum in Uganda". BBC. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  20. ^ Nakiyimba, Gloria (6 December 2012). "Eritrea's football team seek asylum in Uganda, citing persecution". RFI English. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  21. ^ Oryada, Andrew Jackson (4 December 2012). "Eritrea players missing in Uganda after regional championship". BBC. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  22. ^ a b "Eritrea players go missing in Kenya". AFP. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
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  24. ^ "Eritrean footballers join row of asylum seekers". afrol.com. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  25. ^ "Angola considers asylum claims". BBC. 28 March 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  26. ^ "Three Eritrean Players Seek Asylum in Sudan". Sudan Vision. 25 November 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  27. ^ a b c Wandera, Gilbert (9 December 2009). "Tanzania hit Eritrea to make semi-final". The Standard. Nairobi. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  28. ^ "Eritrea withdraw from qualifiers". FIFA. 25 March 2008. Archived from the original on 1 April 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  29. ^ Pilipili, Oscar (12 December 2009). "Zimbabwe held 0–0 by Eritrea". The Standard. Nairobi. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  30. ^ Toskin, Robin (4 December 2009). "Eritrean goalkeeper's effort not good enough". The Standard. Nairobi. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  31. ^ "Eritrea crush Somalia as Rwanda pip Zims". The Standard. Nairobi. 6 December 2009. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  32. ^ Xinhua (16 December 2009). "Kenya Searches for 12 "Missing" Eritrean Players". CRI. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  33. ^ Ombati, Cyrus (18 December 2009). "12 Eritrean footballers granted asylum". The Standard. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  34. ^ "Assenna.com – Politics, Culture, Religion". assenna.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  35. ^ Sportal Australia (26 August 2011). "Gold Coast Sign Refugee Pair". Australian FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  36. ^ "Eritrean football players seek asylum in Botswana". BBC News. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  37. ^ "HAFAKAN RUHU / Eritre futbolu, ne alaka? – PINAR ÖĞÜNÇ". Radikal (in Turkish). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  38. ^ FIFA.com. "Eritrea - Association Information - FIFA.com". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.

External links[]

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