Eritrea 'tightens security' to prevent players escaping after Bafana game
by Lukhanyo Mtuta · KickOffIt is now being reported that the Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF) will be keeping a close eye on their players during matches against Kenya and Bafana Bafana, fearing that they will try to flee the country.
Eritrea is widely classified as an authoritarian state, with the country often ranked as one of the least democratic countries on earth.
Politics' impact on national team
Football in the country is also affected by this, as players face strict rules to prevent them from leaving the confines of their country without government approval.
This political situation has had a deep impact on the national team, who are now set to play in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers for the first time since trying to qualify for AFCON 2008.
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Now, 19 years after their last AFCON qualifying campaign, Eritrea will open their campaign with a clash against Kenya on 26 September in Nairobi before facing Bafana in Cairo on 30 September.
This week, the president of the ENFF, Paulos W/Haimanot, conducted a press conference in Asmara, the nation's capital, to discuss the upcoming fixtures.
W/Haimanot said that there were plans to include more dual-nationality players in the squad and players who already play abroad.
Now, according to Africa Intelligence, this decision is aimed at reducing the growing number of defections, as some national team players use these windows as an opportunity to escape the country.
Stric monitoring
Moreover, the report claims that the Eritrean head of state has personally instructed stricter monitoring of the players when they travel to face Kenya and South Africa.
It is also reported that some players, especially those based locally, will be assigned to individuals who will monitor their movements during camp.
At least three Eritrean players were reported to have escaped during a training camp in Eswatini earlier this year.
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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