Eritrea made an impressive return to the AFCON qualifiers with a 2-0 victory over Eswatini, marking their first appearance in the competition since 2007, when they were competing for a place in the 2008 tournament.
The breakthrough came late in the match as 18-year-old Siem Eyob-Abraha, a rising talent at Sheffield United, scored directly from a corner kick in the 84th minute.
The second goal was added by Egypt-based forward Ali Suleiman, sealing a crucial first-leg win.
The match was played at a neutral venue in Morocco because Eswatini currently does not have a stadium that meets international standards.
The victory was widely celebrated both in Eritrea and among Eritreans living abroad, highlighting a renewed sense of hope and pride in the national team.
Much of the success has been credited to head coach Hesham Yakan, a former player for the Egypt national football team who represented his country at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Yakan selected 14 foreign-based players in his 24-man squad, helping to build confidence and unity within the team.
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Celebrations were evident in the Eritrean dressing room after the final whistle, reflecting the significance of the win.
The second leg of the preliminary qualifiers is set to take place on March 31 in Eswatini.
Eritrea will need to maintain their performance if they hope to make history and advance to the second round of qualifiers, scheduled for September to November 2026.
