Afcon 2027: Eritrea one of six nations to advance after 19-year absence from qualifying

Eritrea have reached the main group stage of Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying following a 19-year absence.

They beat Eswatini 4-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round ahead of next year’s tournament in East Africa.

Forward Ali Sulieman, who plays for Kahrabaa Ismaila in the Egyptian top flight, was the hero with three goals across the two legs.

Without a stadium approved for international football, the Red Sea Camels were forced to play their home fixture in Morocco last Wednesday, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Sulieman and fellow forward Siem Eyob-Abraha, who plays for Sheffield United in England’s second tier and is a former Manchester United youth player.

They followed that up with a 2-1 victory in Eswatini, with the home side only grabbing their consolation in the 96th minute.

Ranked 184th in the world by Fifa, with only four African nations below them, Eritrea have played just a handful of games over the last six years, and last played an Afcon qualifier in September 2007, ironically against Eswatini.

Burundi, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Somalia and South Sudan are the other five nations to reach qualification’s group stage, which will begin in September.

Afcon 2027, which will be held in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will be the first to be staged by three co-hosts.