"Eritrea will end 18 years of isolation from the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday when they host Eswatini in the Moroccan city of Meknes in the first qualifier for the 2027 tournament."
"Eritrean football officials have never explained their absence from nine subsequent Cups of Nations, but it is widely believed to be due to players seeking asylum when playing abroad."
"After positive discussions with our government, we have registered to play in the 2027 AFCON, and I believe we will have a strong team, including many Eritreans playing outside Africa."
Eritrea will host Eswatini in the first AFCON qualifier since 2008, marking the end of an 18-year absence from the tournament. The match will take place in Meknes, Morocco, due to Eritrea's lack of suitable venues. The aggregate winners will advance to the group stage, which features 12 mini-leagues. Eritrea's absence from previous tournaments is attributed to players seeking asylum amid political repression. The Eritrean National Football Federation aims to build a strong team, including players from the diaspora, under new coach Hesham Yakan.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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