Seven Eritrean national team players missing after Eswatini match

Seven members of the Eritrean national football team have gone missing following an Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying match against Eswatini, played on March 31 in Lobamba. The team was traveling back via Cairo with a stopover in South Africa when the players disappeared. While official circumstances remain under investigation, an Eritrean community member in South Africa stated that several of the missing players were spotted in Johannesburg. Reports suggest the players may have defected during the transit. The Eritrean delegation originally consisted of 24 members, including 10 international players. The United Nations notes that approximately 80 Eritrean athletes and officials have defected while abroad over the last two decades, frequently citing the country's indefinite military conscription under President Isaias Afwerki. Authorities have not yet confirmed the current whereabouts or the legal status of the missing individuals.