However, according to the Guardian, this is because there are many players seeking asylum abroad
httpswwwtheguardiancomfootball2023nov13eritrea-withdrew-from-2026-world-cup-qualifying-over-fears-players-will-flee
Since 2009, more than 60 players have applied for asylum by using their national team status
Four under-20 national teams also fled after defeating Zanzibar 5-0 in the quarterfinals of the under-20 Sekappa Cup
In 2021, female athletes also fled the U-20 Women’s Championship
They were aiming for this, and they said they didn’t think we’d run away
“They’re good when we ask the security guard if we can go for a walk I said, “You can go” “That’s when we escaped”
After fleeing, they were granted asylum through the Eritrean Human Rights Refugee Organization and the United Nations Refugee Agency
They say they should leave Uganda quickly and go to a safe country, because in Uganda, people working for the Eritrean government are hunting people like them, and one of the people who actually helped them went missing one day
httpswwwtheguardiancomfootball2020jan10eritrea-footballers-on-the-run-death-kidnap-asylum-hiding-uganda
Eritrea is a repressive government
First of all, indefinitely extended military service
It is a conscription system, but while serving in the military, he suffers from all kinds of labor and forced labor that is put into construction, and the military service is endless
No one knows when they’re going to be discharged, and they can do it until the age of 50
It’s also a country where religious oppression is severe
Among Christianity, only Sunnis can believe in Catholicism and Eritrean Orthodox Islam
Believing in other things is illegally arrested and detained just because they worshiped other religions. Torture to change faith
Amnesty International estimates that at least 10,000 political prisoners have been imprisoned since 1993, but says they do not know where they are
Physical abuse torture, etc., frequently show illegal civilian killing and abuse by the Eritrean military
Of course there is no such thing as an independent press or an opposition party
Overseas travel is not permitted. Departure visas are not issued. Limited permission is given only to families over 50 years old or high-ranking
The country’s World Freedom Index tied for 192nd among 195 countries along with North Korea in 2023 The lower countries are Turkmenistan, Syria and South Sudan
Because it’s like North Korea, foreign media often use the word North Korea in Africa
Eritrean Human Rights Report
httpswwwstategovreports2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practiceseritrea
But when he came to power, he became the worst dictator
Anyway, this is why through international games, players try to defect as soon as they go abroad
So Eritrea has not played an international match itself since a friendly against Sudan in January 2020
That’s why they can’t calculate the FIFA ranking, so they’re not even on the FIFA ranking list
Eritrea’s withdrawal from the World Cup qualifying round will result in five teams in Group E qualifying for Africa