Eritrea national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Eritrea

Nickname(s)	Red Sea Camels
Association	Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	CECAFA (East & Central Africa)
Head coach	Ermias Tewelde
Captain	Robel Teklemichael
Most caps	Yidnekachew Shimangus (23)
Top scorer	Yidnekachew Shimangus (6)
Home stadium	Cicero Stadium
FIFA code	ERI
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	204 (7 February 2019)
Highest	121 (August 2007)
Lowest	207 (April–May 2018, September 2019)
Elo ranking
Current	183 2 (3 March 2019)
Highest	140 (1992)
Lowest	185 (2018)
First international
Pre-independence  Sudan 1–1 Eritrea (Khartoum, Sudan; 26 June 1992) Post-independence  Seychelles 0–1 Eritrea  (Mumias, Kenya; 29 November 1994)
Biggest win
Djibouti 0–3 Eritrea  (Kampala, Uganda; 13 December 2019)  Kenya 1–4 Eritrea  (Kampala, Uganda; 17 December 2019)
Biggest defeat
Ghana 5–0 Eritrea  (Accra, Ghana; 28 February 1999)  Angola 6–1 Eritrea  (Luanda, Angola; 25 March 2007)
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).

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

Tanzania  v  Eritrea

3 June 2024 (2024-06-03) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Tanzania

Cancelled

Eritrea

Eritrea  v  Niger

10 June 2024 (2024-06-10) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Eritrea

Cancelled

Niger

2025 Matches

Eritrea  v  Niger A'

26 May 2025 (2025-05-26) Friendly	Eritrea	0–0	Niger A'	Asmara, Eritrea
16:00 UTC+3				Stadium: Asmara Stadium

Eritrea  v  Niger A'

28 May 2025 (2025-05-28) Friendly	Eritrea	0–1	Niger A'	Asmara, Eritrea
16:20 UTC+3			Abdouramane  12'	Stadium: Asmara Stadium

Coaches of the Team

Tekie Abraha, who was born in Asmara, was one of the first managers of the Eritrean national football team.

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
1	1GK	Kibrom Solomon	(2000-09-10) 10 September 2000 (age 24)	9	0	Denden
20	1GK	Abdulahi Abdurahman	(1986-01-01) 1 January 1986 (age 39)	3	0	Red Sea
2	2DF	Eyob Girmay	(1996-11-12) 12 November 1996 (age 28)	8	0	Denden
3	2DF	Filmon Tumzghi	(1993-03-24) 24 March 1993 (age 32)	8	0	Denden
4	2DF	Robel Teklemichael (captain)	(2000-07-24) 24 July 2000 (age 25)	8	0	Ethiopian Coffee
5	2DF	Herman Fessehaye	(2000-11-10) 10 November 2000 (age 24)	2	0	Red Sea
17	2DF	Ablelom Teklezgi	(1996-09-01) 1 September 1996 (age 28)	8	0	Red Sea
6	3MF	Abel Okray	(1996-11-20) 20 November 1996 (age 28)	2	0	Denden
7	3MF	Yonas Solomon	(1994-06-21) 21 June 1994 (age 31)	7	0	Al-Shorta
8	3MF	Samiyuma Alexander	(1991-05-16) 16 May 1991 (age 34)	3	0	Free agent
11	3MF	Senai Hagos	(1992-12-02) 2 December 1992 (age 32)	0	0	Åsane
14	3MF	Christoffer Forsell	(1994-02-19) 19 February 1994 (age 31)	0	0	Free agent
13	3MF	Sammy Simon	(1998-05-17) 17 May 1998 (age 27)	1	0	Free agent
16	3MF	Mohammed Saeid	(1990-12-24) 24 December 1990 (age 34)	1	0	Örebro
18	3MF	Robel Asfaha	(1987-01-31) 31 January 1987 (age 38)	0	0	Sundbybergs
19	3MF	Alexander Andue	(1998-06-05) 5 June 1998 (age 27)	0	0	Stocksund
9	4FW	Henok Goitom	(1984-09-22) 22 September 1984 (age 40)	4	1	Retired (assistant manager of AIK)
10	4FW	Ali Sulieman	(2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 25)	8	3	Hawassa City
12	4FW	Ezana Kahsay	(1994-11-16) 16 November 1994 (age 30)	1	0	Siarka Tarnobrzeg
15	4FW	Ermias Tekie Simon	(1986-09-29) 29 September 1986 (age 38)	0	0	Hallonbergens

Player Records

Players in bold are still playing for Eritrea.

Most Games Played

Top Goal Scorers

Tournament Records

FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup Qualification Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA 1930 to 1938 Part of  Italy Part of  Italy 1950 to 1990 Part of  Ethiopia Part of  Ethiopia 1994 to 1998 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member 2002 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 0 4 2006 2 0 1 1 0 3 2010 Did not enter Did not enter 2014 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 2 4 2018 2 0 0 2 1 5 2022 2 0 0 2 1 4 2026 Withdrew Withdrew 2030 To be determined To be determined 2034 Total – 0/7 – – – – – – 10 0 3 7 4 20 Africa Cup of Nations Africa Cup of Nations record Qualification record Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA 1957 Part of  Ethiopia Part of  Ethiopia 1959 1962 1963 1965 1968 1970 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 Not affiliated with CAF Not affiliated with CAF 1996 1998 2000 Withdrew 9 1 1 7 4 22 2002 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 3 6 2004 6 1 0 5 1 7 2006 2 0 1 1 0 3 2008 6 2 3 1 5 8 2010 Withdrew Withdrew 2012 Did not enter Did not enter 2013 2015 Withdrew Withdrew 2017 Did not enter Did not enter 2019 2021 2023 Withdrew Withdrew 2025 Excluded Excluded 2027 To be determined To be determined Total – 0/35 – – – – – – 25 5 5 15 13 46

CECAFA Cup

CECAFA Cup record
Appearances: 12
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1973 to 1992	Part of  Ethiopia
1994	Fourth place	4th	5	2	1	2	3	2
1995	Did not enter
1996
1999	Group stage	11th	2	0	0	2	2	6
2000		8th	4	0	1	3	4	15
2001		11th	3	0	0	3	3	17
2002	Did not enter
2003
2004
2005	Group stage	10th	4	0	0	4	2	18
2006		11th	3	0	0	3	0	10
2007	Quarter-finals	8th	4	2	0	2	8	8
2008	Group stage	10th	4	0	1	3	2	13
2009		12th	3	0	0	3	0	13
2010	Did not enter
2011	Group stage	11th	3	0	0	3	2	10
2012	Did not enter
2013
2015	Group stage	11th	3	0	0	3	0	9
2017	Did not enter
2019	Runners-up	2nd	6	3	1	2	8	6
Total	0 Titles	12/40	44	7	4	33	34	127

All-Time Record

Key

As of May 28, 2025

      Positive Record       Neutral Record       Negative Record

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Angola	2	0	1	1	2	7	−5
Botswana	2	0	0	2	1	5	−4
Burundi	4	1	2	1	3	3	+0
Cameroon	2	0	1	1	0	1	−1
Djibouti	2	2	0	0	6	2	+4
Swaziland	2	0	2	0	0	0	0
Ghana	1	0	0	1	0	5	−5
Kenya	10	3	1	6	11	14	−3
Mali	2	0	0	2	0	3	−3
Malawi	1	0	0	1	2	3	−1
Mozambique	2	1	0	1	2	3	−1
Namibia	2	0	0	2	1	4	−3
Niger	2	0	1	1	0	1	−1
Nigeria	2	0	1	1	0	4	−4
Rwanda	10	0	2	8	7	16	−9
Senegal	2	0	0	2	2	8	−6
Seychelles	3	2	0	1	2	1	+1
Somalia	3	1	2	0	3	1	+2
Sudan	12	3	2	7	7	20	−13
Tanzania	4	0	1	3	1	7	−6
Uganda	8	1	2	5	6	17	−11
Yemen	1	0	0	1	1	4	−3
Zanzibar	2	0	1	1	0	3	−3
Zimbabwe	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