You would expect a huge celebration after a big tournament win, right? Eritrea’s national football squad just took a very different path after beating Eswatini. Instead of flying straight home, seven players decided to stay abroad.
Reports say some of them have already been spotted in South Africa, including veteran winger Medhanie Redie and goalkeeper Kubrom Solomon. Officials quietly scrapped a planned welcome party once the news broke. Only a few returning players were seen making their scheduled stop in Cairo.
Sadly, this isn’t a one-time event for the country. Over the last twenty years, nearly entire squads have walked away from games in Uganda, Botswana, Kenya, and beyond. Fans who hoped this win would spark a fresh era for local football are now watching a familiar pattern repeat.
No one knows exactly where the missing athletes will settle or what comes next. We will just have to see how the sports community handles yet another sudden departure. Maybe the team will eventually find a way to keep its talent on the pitch for good.
