Eritrea: Egypt international Hesham Yakan takes charge of national team

The Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF) has named Hesham Yakan Zaki as their new coach ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying preliminary round doubleheader against Eswatini this month. The Egyptian has already agreed a deal to coach Eritrea and jetted into the capital, Asmara, on Sunday, March 9.

BREAKING NEWS: ERITREA Has A foreign national coach for the first time since 2008! The Egyptian TV commentator and former zamalek player Hesham Yakin is in charge of the red sea camels. He will arrive in Asmara today.#eritrea#Eritreafootball#redseacamels #egypt #afcon27 pic.twitter.com/jDjA3gG1r3

— Eritrean Football 🔴🌊🐪🇪🇷 (@eritreafootball) March 8, 2026

Eritrea remained without a coach after playing a friendly against the Niger A side in 2025. ENFF has not yet revealed the contract conditions of Yakan as the Egyptian begins his work this week. Yakan is expected to name a squad with a mix of local and experienced players based in other countries. Egypt-based striker Ali Suileman is expected to spearhead the squad.

Yakan is a former Egypt national team defender and spent most of his career with Cairo giants Zamalek. He played for the White Knights for 13 seasons and represented Egypt during the 1990 World Cup. Yakan has coaching experience in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Since gaining independence in 1993, Eritrea has had five foreign coaches who managed the national side. Yakan will be the sixth and the second Egyptian to lead Eritrea. Romanian Dorian Marin and Dutch veteran Rene Feller previously held the coaching position in the Horn of Africa country.

Eritrea has never progressed to AFCON, and they have been absent from the qualifiers since 2007. They will be making a return after nearly two decades.

Mass desertion of players has usually hindered Eritrea from participating in qualifiers in recent times. The desertion of Eritrean football players is a long-standing issue, with over sixty players seeking asylum abroad since 2009 during international matches to escape mandatory, indefinite national service under the regime of President Isaias Afwerki.

A crucial moment for the national team

The arrival of Hesham Yakan comes at a significant moment for the national team as preparations intensify for the upcoming preliminary round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The two-legged clash against Eswatini represents an opportunity for the team to re-establish itself in continental competition after many years of absence.

Supporters will be hoping that the new coach can bring structure, discipline and experience to a squad that has struggled with consistency in recent years. The federation is expected to rely on a combination of locally based players and members of the diaspora who have continued their careers abroad.

Challenges facing the federation

Over the past decade, football development in the country has faced several obstacles, including limited participation in international competitions and difficulties maintaining stable squads. One of the major challenges has been the frequent absence of players who leave national team camps while abroad.

Despite these difficulties, football remains extremely popular among supporters. Many fans hope the appointment of a new coach will mark the beginning of a more stable period for the national team and encourage a stronger presence in continental tournaments.

Looking ahead to the AFCON qualifiers

The upcoming matches against Eswatini will be closely watched by supporters and analysts alike. The winner of the preliminary round will advance to the group stage of the qualification campaign for the 2027 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

For the players, the fixtures represent an important opportunity to showcase their ability on the continental stage. For the coaching staff, it will be the first real test of their plans to rebuild and improve the competitiveness of the national team in African football.

New coaching project begins

The arrival of Hesham Yakan signals the start of a new technical project for the national side. The former defender is expected to focus on rebuilding the squad structure while introducing tactical discipline and organisation. His experience as both a player and coach is seen as valuable as the team attempts to re-establish itself in African competitions.

Local football observers believe the immediate priority will be improving team cohesion and preparation for competitive matches. The technical staff will also be tasked with evaluating players from both domestic leagues and those based abroad.

Importance of the upcoming qualifiers

The preliminary round fixtures against Eswatini will be a crucial test for the squad. The two-legged tie will determine which team advances to the group stage of the qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Players will view the matches as an opportunity to prove themselves at international level while representing their country on the continental stage. For the coaching staff, the games will provide the first opportunity to implement new tactical ideas and assess the strengths of the squad.

Hope for long-term stability

Supporters remain hopeful that the appointment of a new coach will help bring stability to the national team program. In recent years, the side has struggled with limited participation in international competitions and squad disruptions.

With a new technical direction now in place, many fans believe the team can gradually rebuild and compete more consistently in African football.