Eritrea national football team
Encyclopedia
The Eritrea national football team is controlled by the Eritrean National Football Federation
Eritrean National Football Federation
The Eritrean National Football Federation is the governing body of football in Eritrea. It was founded in 1992 and affiliated to FIFA in 1998. It Organizes the National Championship league and the National Team.-External links:...

 (ENFF). It is nicknamed the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...

 Boys
. It has not qualified for the finals of the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...

 or the African Nations Cup. Red Sea FC
Red Sea FC
Red Sea is an Eritrean football club based in Asmara.In 2011 after a regional tournament in Tanzania, 13 team members didn't return home but have asked for political asylum.-Achievements:*Eritrean Premier League: 7-Performance in CAF competitions:...

 are the main supplier for the national football team of Eritrea.

History

An Eritrean team was invited to a friendly tournament in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...

 in 1992, the year before the country's independence was accomplished. Eritrea participated in the 1994 CECAFA Cup, organised by the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association
Council for East and Central Africa Football Association
The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations is an association of the football playing nations in Eastern Africa. It is also an affiliate of CAF.It is arguably the oldest sub-regional football organisation in Africa.-History:...

, even though the ENFF was not founded until 1996. The first full international was in the 1998 CECAFA Cup, the year the ENFF joined the CAF and FIFA. They participated in the qualifying rounds of the 2000 African Nations Cup and the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...

, and subsequent editions until 2008. They have also appeared intermittently in the CECAFA Cup
CECAFA Cup
The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup is the oldest football tournament in Africa. It is a tournament of FIFA and the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations , and includes national teams from Central and East Africa...

.

In the first round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, they were drawn against Nigeria
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...

, and were defeated 4–0 in the away leg, after a goalless draw at home. Captain of the team was Debesai Ghierghis Ogbazghi
Debesai Ghierghis Ogbazghi
Debesai Ghierghis Ogbazghi was the captain of the 1999 Eritrean National Soccer Team.-In popular culture:*In the American Dad episode Family Affair, Roger the Alien buys an Ogbazghi jersey. He reveals that by telling the Smith family how he met the Johnson family: "Those people you saw me with - I...

. The coach was Yilmaz Yuceturk.

In the first round of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification - CAF First Round
In the First Round, 42 teams were paired 2-by-2 and played knockout matches home-and-away. The 21 winners would advance to the Second Round where they would meet the other 9 teams that qualify directly to the Second Round...

, they were drawn against Sudan
Sudan national football team
The Sudan national football team represents Sudan in association football and is controlled by the Sudan Football Association, the governing body for football in Sudan. Sudan's home ground is Al Merreikh Stadium in Omdurman and their head coach is Mohammed Abdullah Mazda...

 and lost the first leg 3–0, before another goalless draw in Asmara. The coach was Eritrean Tekie Abraha.

In qualification group 6 for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, under the guidance of Romanian Dorian Marin
Dorian Marin
-Career:After coaching the Eritrean national side, Marin took control of Ugandan club Uganda Revenue Authority in January 2008.After Samson Siasia left Nigerian club Heartland to manage the Nigerian national team, Marin was one of four European coaches named on the shortlist to replace...

, Eritrea finished second behind Angola
Angola national football team
The Angola national football team, nicknamed Palancas Negras , is the national team of Angola and is controlled by the Federação Angolana de Futebol. Angola reached 45th in the FIFA Rankings in July 2002...

, failing to qualify for the final tournament. They beat Kenya
Kenya national football team
The Kenya national football team, nicknamed the Harambee Stars, is the national team of Kenya and is controlled by Football Kenya Limited, the governing body of football in Kenya. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals.-History:...

 twice and drew at home to Angola.

Recent events

, recent years have seen a high number of refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...

s leaving Eritrea and some athletes travelling to competitions abroad have taken the opportunity to abscond.
Four players of Red Sea FC
Red Sea FC
Red Sea is an Eritrean football club based in Asmara.In 2011 after a regional tournament in Tanzania, 13 team members didn't return home but have asked for political asylum.-Achievements:*Eritrean Premier League: 7-Performance in CAF competitions:...

 defected after a CAF Champions League 2006
CAF Champions League 2006
The CAF Champions League 2006 started on 17 February 2006 with a preliminary round. The second leg of the final was played in Tunisia on the 11th of November. Al-Ahly won the tournament for the second time in a row with a late winner by Mohamed Aboutreika....

 match in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...

, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...

, and up to 12 members of the national side after the 2007 CECAFA Cup
2007 CECAFA Cup
The 2007 CECAFA Cup is the 31st edition of the football tournament that involves teams from East and Central Africa.All matches are to be played from 8 December 2007 - 22 December 2007 at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium, Arusha, Tanzania.-Information:*...

 in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...

. Another 6 players sought asylum in Angola in March 2007 after a game in the qualification group 6 for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. Three more players from the national team sought asylum in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...

.

Eritrea withdrew from the 2008 CECAFA Cup
2008 CECAFA Cup
The 2008 CECAFA Cup was the 32nd edition of the football tournament that involves teams from East and Central Africa.All matches were be played from 31 December 2008 to 13 January 2009 at the National Stadium, Kampala, Uganda.-Information:...

, and from the common qualifying tournament
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
The Confederation of African Football section of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw teams compete for five berths in the final tournament in South Africa...

 shared by the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...

 and the 2010 African Cup of Nations
2010 African Cup of Nations
The 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the Orange Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, was the 27th Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial football championship of Africa...

;. Given the number of players seeking asylum, the Eritrean government began requiring athletes to pay a 100,000 nakfa
Eritrean nakfa
The nakfa is the currency of Eritrea. It is divided into 100 cents. The currency was introduced in 1997 to replace the Ethiopian birr at par, and it was named after the town of Nakfa.For an earlier currency of Eritrea, see tallero....

 surety
Surety
A surety or guarantee, in finance, is a promise by one party to assume responsibility for the debt obligation of a borrower if that borrower defaults...

 before traveling abroad.

Eritrea returned to the 2009 CECAFA Cup
2009 CECAFA Cup
The 2009 Orange CECAFA Senior Challenge tournament was the 33rd edition of the CECAFA Cup football tournament that involves teams from East and Central Africa...

 in Nairobi. A young squad was assembled with just 12 days' training. In Group B, they gained a surprise draw with Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe national football team
The Zimbabwe national football team, nicknamed The Warriors, is the national team of Zimbabwe and is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association. They were known as the Southern Rhodesia national football team from 1939–1964, then the Rhodesia national football team until 1980, when Rhodesia...

, lost narrowly to Rwanda
Rwanda national football team
The Rwanda national football team, nicknamed Amavubi , is the national team of Rwanda and is controlled by the Fédération Rwandaise de Football Amateur...

, and beat Somalia
Somalia national football team
The Somalia national football team, nicknamed The Ocean Stars, is the national football team of Somalia. It is controlled by the Somali Football Federation, and is a member of the Confederation of African Football and the Union of Arab Football Associations . It has never qualified for the final...

 3–1. They were easily beaten 4–0 in the quarter-finals by Tanzania
Tanzania national football team
The Tanzania national football team represents Tanzania in association football and is controlled by the Tanzania Football Federation, the governing body for football in Tanzania. Tanzania's home ground is Benjamin Mkapa national stadium in Dar-es-Salaam and their head coach is Jan Børge Poulsen....

. Twelve squad members failed to report for the return flight, and sought the assistance of the Refugee Consortium of Kenya. They are believed to be in hiding in Eastleigh
Eastleigh, Nairobi
Eastleigh is a suburb of Nairobi, Kenya. It is located east of the Central business district. Predominantly inhabited by Somali immigrants, it has been described as "Little Mogadishu", as well as "a country within a country with its own economy" on account of its robust business...

, an eastern suburb of Nairobi home to many immigrants. Nicholas Musonye, the secretary-general of CECAFA, feared that the government might react by refusing to let the team travel abroad in future. The twelve players were later granted interim asylum by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...

 in Kenya. Eleven of these players have since travelled to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...

 in Australia with two of them, Samuel Ghebrehiwet
Samuel Ghebrehiwet
Samuel Tesfagabr is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays for Gold Coast United in the A-League-Club career:On 26 August 2011 he signed with A-League club Gold Coast United from FFSA Super League club Western Strikers.-International career:...

 and Ambes Sium
Ambair Sium
Ambesager Yosief is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays for Gold Coast United in the A-League.-Club career:On 26 August 2011 he signed with A-League club Gold Coast United from FFSA Super League club Western Strikers.-International career:...

, signing for Gold Coast United in the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...

 in August, 2011.

Eritrea U-23 Red Sea Camels defeated Kenya national teams Under 23 4 - 1. The game was played in the All Africa Games qualifier held in Asmara

World Cup record

  • 1930
    1930 FIFA World Cup
    The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...

     to 1998
    1998 FIFA World Cup
    The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...

     — Did not enter
  • 2002
    2002 FIFA World Cup
    The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...

     to 2006
    2006 FIFA World Cup
    The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...

     — Did not qualify
  • 2010
    2010 FIFA World Cup
    The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...

     — Did not enter
  • 2014
    2014 FIFA World Cup
    The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international association football tournament that will take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014....

     — Did not qualify

African Nations Cup record

  • 1957 to 1998 — Did not enter
  • 2000 to 2008 — Did not qualify
  • 2010 — Withdrew
  • 2012 - Did not enter
  • 2013 - Did not enter

Current squad

As played at the 2009 CECAFA Cup
2009 CECAFA Cup
The 2009 Orange CECAFA Senior Challenge tournament was the 33rd edition of the CECAFA Cup football tournament that involves teams from East and Central Africa...

 in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...

. The squad list is sourced from various news reports from matches and is incomplete.
# Player Position Date of Birth Caps (Goals) Club
Yosief Zeratsion
Yosief Zeratsion
Yosief Zeratsion is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays as goalkeeper for the Eritrea national football team.-International career:Zeratsion played in the 2009 CECAFA Cup in Kenya. He appeared in each group match, including the opening goalless draw with Zimbabwe, the 2-1 group match defeat...


Goalkeeper 
Ambesager Yosief 
Defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

 
Gold Coast United
Abraham Tedros
Abraham Tedros
Abraham Tedros is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays for the Eritrea national football team.-International career:Tedros played in the 2009 CECAFA Cup in Kenya, appearing in the opening group match against Zimbabwe....


Defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

 
Nevi Ghebremeskez
Nevi Ghebremeskez
Nevi Ghebremeskez is an Eritrean footballer who plays for the White City Woodville in the FFSA Premier League.-Club career:In 2011 he signed with FFSA Super League club Western Strikers after being granted refugee status by the Australian government.He latter signed for FFSA Premier League side...


Defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

 
Western Strikers
Western Strikers
Western Strikers are a football club from Adelaide, South Australia. Strikers play in the South Australian Super League. Their home ground is at Carnegie Reserve. They are great rivals of fellow western suburbs sides like the Toros and White City...

Alemayo Ayele
Alemayo Ayele
Alemayo Ayele is an Eritrean footballer who plays for the Croydon Kings in the FFSA Super League.-Club career:In 2011 he signed with FFSA Super League club Croydon Kings after being granted political asylum by the Australian government....


Defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

 
Croydon Kings
Croydon Kings
The Croydon Kings are a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. Croydon Kings play in the South Australian Super League. They play home games at Polonia Reserve at Croydon in the Adelaide's west. They are one of the most successful sides in South Australian football...

Samuel Ghebrehiwet
Samuel Ghebrehiwet
Samuel Tesfagabr is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays for Gold Coast United in the A-League-Club career:On 26 August 2011 he signed with A-League club Gold Coast United from FFSA Super League club Western Strikers.-International career:...


Defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

 
Gold Coast United
Filmon Tseqay
Filmon Tseqay
Filmon Tseqay is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays for the Eritrea national football team.-International career:Tseqay played in the 2009 CECAFA Cup in Kenya, scoring in the 3-1 victory against Somalia.-References:...


Midfielder 
Yonatan Goitum
Yonatan Goitum
Yonatan Goitum is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays for the Eritrea national football team.-International career:Goitum played in the 2009 CECAFA Cup in Kenya, providing the assist for the second Eritrean goal in the 3-1 victory against Somalia....

 
Midfielder 
Mehari Shinash
Mehari Shinash
Mehari Shinash is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays for the Eritrea national football team.-International career:Shinash played in the 2009 CECAFA Cup in Kenya, where his cross was deflected in for an own goal in the 3-1 victory against Somalia....


Midfielder 
Ermias Wolday
Ermias Wolday
Ermias Wolday is an Eritrean footballer who plays for the Croydon Kings in the FFSA Super League.-Club career:In 2011 he signed with FFSA Super League club Croydon Kings after being granted political asylum by the Australian government....


Midfielder  Croydon Kings
Croydon Kings
The Croydon Kings are a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. Croydon Kings play in the South Australian Super League. They play home games at Polonia Reserve at Croydon in the Adelaide's west. They are one of the most successful sides in South Australian football...

Bruk Asres
Bruk Asres
Bruk Asres is an Eritrean footballer who currently plays for the Adelaide Raiders in the FFSA Super League.-Club career:In 2011 he signed with FFSA Super League club Adelaide Raiders after being granted refugee status by the Australian government....


Midfielder  Adelaide Raiders
Adelaide Raiders
Raiders is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia, that plays in the South Australian Super League. Its home ground is the Croatian Sports Centre in Gepps Cross, a northern suburb of Adelaide. It is a Croatian Australian-backed club and is also known by the name "Adelaide Croatia"...

Jemal Abdu
Jemal Abdu
Jemal Abdu is an Eritrean footballer who plays for the Croydon Kings in the FFSA Super League.-Club career:In 2011 he signed with FFSA Super League club Croydon Kings after being granted political asylum by the Australian government.-International career:...


Midfielder  Croydon Kings
Croydon Kings
The Croydon Kings are a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. Croydon Kings play in the South Australian Super League. They play home games at Polonia Reserve at Croydon in the Adelaide's west. They are one of the most successful sides in South Australian football...

Yohannes Tilahun
Yohannes Tilahun
Yohannes Tilahun is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays for the Eritrea national football team.-International career:Tilahun played in the 2009 CECAFA Cup in Kenya, appearing in the 2-1 group match defeat to Rwanda.-External links:...


Midfielder 
Hermon Teklerb
Hermon Teklerb
Hermon Teklerb is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays for the Eritrea national football team.-International career:Teklerb played in the 2009 CECAFA Cup in Kenya, appearing as a substitute in the 4-0 quarter-final defeat to Tanzania.-References:...


Midfielder 
Srafel Tesfamichael
Srafel Tesfamichael
Srafel Tesfamichael is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays for the Eritrea national football team.-International career:Tesfamichael played in the 2009 CECAFA Cup in Kenya, appearing as a substitute in the 4-0 quarter-final defeat to Tanzania....


Midfielder 
Isaias Andberhian
Isaias Andberhian
Isaias Andberhian is an Eritrean footballer. He currently plays for the Eritrea national football team.-International career:Andberhian played in the 2009 CECAFA Cup in Kenya, scoring in the 3-1 victory against Somalia-External links:...


Striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...

 
Testfaldet Goitom
Testfaldet Goitom
Testfaldet Goitom is an Eritrean footballer who plays for the Adelaide Blue Eagles in the FFSA Super League.-International career:Goitom played in the 2009 CECAFA Cup in Kenya, scoring in the 2-1 defeat against Rwanda...

 
Striker  Adelaide Blue Eagles
Adelaide Blue Eagles
Adelaide Blue Eagles is a football club based at the Marden Sports Complex, South Australia. Blue Eagles is a participant in the recently formed South Australian Super League. ABE is a predominantly Italian Australian-supported club...


External links

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