Eritrea national football team facts for kids
Nickname(s) | Red Sea Camels | ||
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Association | Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF) | ||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
Sub-confederation | CECAFA (East & Central Africa) |
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Head coach | Ermias Tewelde | ||
Captain | Robel Teklemichael | ||
Most caps | Yidnekachew Shimangus (23) | ||
Top scorer | Yidnekachew Shimangus (6) | ||
Home stadium | Cicero Stadium | ||
FIFA code | ERI | ||
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FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 204 ![]() |
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Highest | 121 (August 2007) | ||
Lowest | 207 (April–May 2018, September 2019) | ||
Elo ranking | |||
Current | 183 ![]() |
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Highest | 140 (1992) | ||
Lowest | 185 (2018) | ||
First international | |||
Pre-independence![]() ![]() (Khartoum, Sudan; 26 June 1992) Post-independence ![]() ![]() (Mumias, Kenya; 29 November 1994) |
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Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Kampala, Uganda; 13 December 2019) ![]() ![]() (Kampala, Uganda; 17 December 2019) |
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Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Accra, Ghana; 28 February 1999) ![]() ![]() (Luanda, Angola; 25 March 2007) |
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CECAFA Cup | |||
Appearances | 12 (first in 1994) | ||
Best result | Runners-up (2019) |
The Eritrea national football team plays for Eritrea in men's international football games. The team is managed by the Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF). They are often called the Red Sea Boys or Red Sea Camels.
Eritrea has never played in the final tournaments of the FIFA World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations. The team from Asmara, Red Sea FC, provides many players for the national team. Eritrea is a member of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Contents
Team History
An Eritrean football team played in a friendly tournament in Sudan in 1992. This was before Eritrea became an independent country. Eritrea then joined the 1994 CECAFA Cup, which is a tournament for teams in East and Central Africa. The Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF) was officially started in 1996.
The team's first official international match was in the 1999 CECAFA Cup. This was after the ENFF joined CAF and FIFA. Eritrea has tried to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup many times since then. They also play in the CECAFA Cup regularly.
Early Matches
In the qualifiers for the 2000 African Cup of Nations, Eritrea had some good results. They tied 0–0 at home against Cameroon. They also won 1–0 at home against Mozambique. They moved to a playoff round but lost their matches against Senegal and Zimbabwe.
For the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, Eritrea played against Nigeria. They tied 0–0 at home but lost 4–0 away. Their coach at that time was Yilmaz Yuceturk.
In the qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup, Eritrea played against Sudan. They lost the first game 3–0 and then tied 0–0 in Asmara. The coach was Eritrean Tekie Abraha.
For the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Eritrea finished second in their group behind Angola. They did not qualify for the main tournament. During this time, they beat Kenya twice and tied at home with Angola. Their coach was Dorian Marin from Romania.
Recent World Cup Qualifiers
In the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, Eritrea played Rwanda. The first game in Asmara was a 1–1 draw. This was Eritrea's first goal ever in a World Cup qualifier. However, Rwanda won the second game 3–1.
For the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Eritrea played Botswana. Botswana won both games, 2–0 in Asmara and 3–1 in Francistown. Botswana won 5–1 overall.
In the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, Eritrea played Namibia. Namibia won the first game 2–1 in Asmara and the second game 2–0. Namibia won 4–1 overall.
Eritrea did not participate in the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations or the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Team Withdrawals
Eritrea has sometimes withdrawn from major tournament qualifiers. In 2014, they pulled out of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. This was likely because some players chose not to return home after playing away matches.
In 2022, Eritrea withdrew from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The reason given was that they did not have a stadium that met the rules for international matches set by CAF.
In November 2023, Eritrea also pulled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The reason was that the Eritrean Commissioner for Sports and Culture decided not to let the team play.
Players Not Returning Home
Over the years, some Eritrean athletes traveling for competitions have chosen to stay in other countries. For example, in December 2012, 17 Eritrean footballers and their team doctor did not return after a tournament in Uganda.
Other instances include:
- Four players from Red Sea FC did not return after a game in Kenya in 2006.
- Up to 12 national team members did not return after a tournament in Tanzania in 2007.
- Six players chose to stay in Angola in March 2007 after a qualifying game.
- Three more players from the national team chose to stay in Sudan.
Because of this, the Eritrean government started asking athletes to pay a large amount of money as a guarantee before traveling abroad.
Eritrea returned to the 2009 CECAFA Cup with a young team. After the tournament, twelve squad members did not report for their flight home. They were later allowed to stay in Kenya. Some of these players later moved to Australia.
In 2015, ten players from the Eritrean football team chose not to return home after a World Cup qualifying match in Botswana. They were allowed to stay there.
More recently, in September 2019, four members of the national Under-20 team chose to stay in Uganda. A few months later, in December, seven more senior players also chose to stay in Uganda after a tournament. In October 2021, five players from the country's under-20 women's team also did not return home after playing in Uganda.
Results and Upcoming Games
Here are the recent match results and any games planned for the future.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2024 Matches
3 June 2024 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Tanzania ![]() |
Cancelled | ![]() |
10 June 2024 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Eritrea ![]() |
Cancelled | ![]() |
2025 Matches
28 May 2025 Friendly | Eritrea ![]() |
0–1 | ![]() |
Asmara, Eritrea |
16:20 UTC+3 | Abdouramane ![]() |
Stadium: Asmara Stadium |
Coaches of the Team

Tekie Abraha (1991–1996)
Mushir Osman (1998–1999)
Tekie Abraha (1999–2000)
Yılmaz Yücetürk (2000–2002)
Negash Teklit (2002, caretaker)
Vojo Gardašević (2002)
Tekie Abraha (2003)
Mrad Abdul Tesfay (2004)
Dorian Marin (2006–2007)
René Feller (2007–2008)
Negash Teklit (2009–2012)
Omar Ahmed Hussein (2013–2015)
Alemseged Efrem (2015–2019)
Ermias Tewelde (2024-)
Team Players
Current Squad
These players were chosen for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Namibia on September 10, 2019.
Caps (games played) and goals are correct as of September 10, 2019, after the match against Namibia.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
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1 | GK | Kibrom Solomon | 10 September 2000 | 9 | 0 | ![]() |
20 | GK | Abdulahi Abdurahman | 1 January 1986 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
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2 | DF | Eyob Girmay | 12 November 1996 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | DF | Filmon Tumzghi | 24 March 1993 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
4 | DF | Robel Teklemichael (captain) | 24 July 2000 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
5 | DF | Herman Fessehaye | 10 November 2000 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
17 | DF | Ablelom Teklezgi | 1 September 1996 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
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6 | MF | Abel Okray | 20 November 1996 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
7 | MF | Yonas Solomon | 21 June 1994 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
8 | MF | Samiyuma Alexander | 16 May 1991 | 3 | 0 | Free agent |
11 | MF | Senai Hagos | 2 December 1992 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
14 | MF | Christoffer Forsell | 19 February 1994 | 0 | 0 | Free agent |
13 | MF | Sammy Simon | 17 May 1998 | 1 | 0 | Free agent |
16 | MF | Mohammed Saeid | 24 December 1990 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
18 | MF | Robel Asfaha | 31 January 1987 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
19 | MF | Alexander Andue | 5 June 1998 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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9 | FW | Henok Goitom | 22 September 1984 | 4 | 1 | Retired (assistant manager of AIK) |
10 | FW | Ali Sulieman | 1 January 2000 | 8 | 3 | ![]() |
12 | FW | Ezana Kahsay | 16 November 1994 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
15 | FW | Ermias Tekie Simon | 29 September 1986 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
Player Records
- Players in bold are still playing for Eritrea.
Most Games Played
Rank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
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1 | Yidnekachew Shimangus | 23 | 6 | 1998–2007 |
2 | Yonas Fesehaye | 19 | 5 | 1999–2007 |
3 | Natnael Mesfun Zeru | 16 | 0 | 1998–2003 |
4 | Abel Afeworki | 13 | 0 | 1998–2002 |
5 | Efrem Bain Kaleb | 12 | 0 | 1998–2006 |
6 | Fassil Abreha | 11 | 3 | 1999–2003 |
Berhane Aregai | 11 | 5 | 2002–2007 | |
8 | Elias Debesa | 9 | 0 | 1999–2007 |
Amanuel Iyassu | 9 | 1 | 1998–2000 | |
Kibrom Solomon | 9 | 0 | 2019–present | |
Ali Sulieman | 9 | 3 | 2019–present | |
Robel Teklemichael | 9 | 0 | 2019–present | |
Ablelom Teklezghi | 9 | 0 | 2019–present | |
Robel Tesfamichael | 9 | 0 | 1999–2000 | |
Efrem Tewolde | 9 | 0 | 1998–1999 | |
Filmon Tumzghi | 9 | 0 | 2019–present |
Top Goal Scorers
Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
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1 | Yidnekachew Shimangus | 6 | 23 | 0.26 | 1998–2007 |
2 | Berhane Aregai | 5 | 11 | 0.45 | 2002–2007 |
Yonas Fesehaye | 5 | 19 | 0.26 | 1999–2007 | |
4 | Testfaldet Goitom | 3 | 8 | 0.38 | 2003–2009 |
Ali Sulieman | 3 | 9 | 0.33 | 2019–present | |
Fassil Abreha | 3 | 11 | 0.27 | 1999–2003 | |
7 | Elmon Temekribon | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2007 |
Robel Kidane | 2 | 7 | 0.29 | 2015–present | |
Suleman Mohamed | 2 | 7 | 0.29 | 2003–2007 | |
Abiel Okbay | 2 | 8 | 0.25 | 2019–present |
Tournament Records
FIFA World Cup
Africa Cup of Nations
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CECAFA Cup
CECAFA Cup record | ||||||||
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Appearances: 12 | ||||||||
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
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Part of ![]() |
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Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Group stage | 11th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
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8th | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 15 | |
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11th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 17 | |
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Group stage | 10th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 18 |
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11th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | |
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Quarter-finals | 8th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 8 |
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Group stage | 10th | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
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12th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | |
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Group stage | 11th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Group stage | 11th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 |
Total | 0 Titles | 12/40 | 44 | 7 | 4 | 33 | 34 | 127 |
All-Time Record
- Key
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As of May 28, 2025
Positive Record Neutral Record Negative Record
Opponent |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | −5 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | −4 |
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4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +0 |
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 |
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2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 |
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2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | −5 |
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10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 14 | −3 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | −3 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 |
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2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 |
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 |
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 |
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10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 16 | −9 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | −6 |
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3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
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3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 |
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12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 20 | −13 |
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4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | −6 |
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8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 17 | −11 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 |
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 |
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5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 8 | −8 |
Total | 86 | 14 | 20 | 52 | 57 | 140 | −83 |
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Eritrea para niños