AFCON (Q): Eritrea eye strong comeback in qualifying after 20-year absence

Newly appointed Eritrea national team head coach Hesham Yakan said his charges are not in Morocco just to make up the numbers when they face Eswatini in their preliminary round, first leg clash from 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying. The Red Sea Camels are making their return to the qualifiers after nearly two decades, with the 2008 edition being their last appearance.

They will play Eswatini in Meknes, Morocco, as they do not have a CAF-accredited stadium in their country. Preparation for the national team had two phases, with twelve local players—mainly from reigning Eritrean Super Division champions Denden as well as Red Sea FC—commencing training early in the capital, Asmara. Fourteen foreign-based players have since joined the national team in Morocco, as the Egyptian coach looks ahead to facing Eswatini.

Red Sea Camels Roar!

Star Striker Ali Suleiman Arrives in Morocco with a Smile of Hope for AFCON 2027 Quest!

The spirit of Eritrean football is soaring as the national hero, Ali Suleiman, has officially landed in Morocco, Already ready to join the Red Sea Camels for their… pic.twitter.com/ZYAHLbalKM

— Natnael Zemichael (@natzem) March 24, 2026

The 63-year-old former Egyptian international told Cenima Semere that the team aims to progress beyond the preliminary round. “First of all, we want to progress and move from this level to the international stage. The goal is very clear: to take the Eritrean national team to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations group qualifiers. We want to enter the competition strongly, not just participate for the sake of taking part.”

Their last attempt to qualify was a memorable one. The national side were runners-up in Group 6 with nine points, while Angola progressed after securing 13 points. Romanian coach Dorian Marin was the head coach at the time and coincidentally, Eritrea now has a foreign coach again after two decades as they hope to snatch a positive result against Eswatini.