Ali Suleiman Stars as Eritrea Secure Historic Qualification with 4-1 Aggregate Victory.
Eritrea have booked their place in the next stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifiers after a convincing 4-1 aggregate victory over Eswatini.
Eritrea secured a 2-1 win in the second leg on Tuesday, adding to their earlier 2-0 triumph to complete a historic progression in the qualifiers.
Suleiman Shines Again
After a goalless first half, Eritrea turned on the style in the second period, with Ali Suleiman emerging as the hero once again.
He broke the deadlock in the 50th minute before doubling the lead just nine minutes later, effectively ending Eswatini’s hopes of a comeback. His standout performance across both legs underlined his importance to Eritrea’s campaign.
Eswatini’s Late Consolation
Eswatini managed to pull one back deep into stoppage time through Justice Figuareido, but the goal had little impact on the final outcome.
Despite a spirited effort, they struggled to overturn the deficit created in the first leg, where Eritrea had already taken firm control of the tie.
First-Leg Advantage Proves Crucial
Eritrea’s qualification was largely built on their disciplined performance in the first leg, played in Morocco, where goals from Siem Eyob-Abraha and Suleiman secured a vital 2-0 win.
That cushion allowed them to approach the return leg with confidence, controlling the game and limiting Eswatini’s attacking threats.
A Major Milestone for Eritrea
The victory marks a significant achievement for Eritrea, who are participating in AFCON qualifiers for the first time in nearly two decades.
Their progression highlights a team growing in confidence and organisation, with renewed belief as they advance further in the competition.
Looking Ahead
Eritrea now move into the next round of qualifiers as they continue their journey towards AFCON 2027, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
With momentum on their side, Eritrea’s campaign is shaping up as one to watch on the African football stage.
