While part of the squad travelled home via South Africa, the missing players are believed to have remained behind. Only a small portion of the 24-man squad, most of whom were based outside Eritrea, has since returned to Asmara. Over the years, multiple players, and in some cases, entire squads, have chosen not to return after international assignments. In 2019, several members of the under-20 team went missing during a regional tournament in Uganda. In 2015, a group of senior players did not return after a World Cup qualifier in Botswana.

Source: Ethiopian News April 07, 2026 13:05 UTC