Eritrea withdraw from Africa Cup - Monday, 31 March 2014 13:48

africatodayonline.blogspot.com -

Addis Ababa, 31 March 2014 (WIC) - Eritrea withdrew from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying competition Sunday, the organizers said in a statement.

The 'Red Sea Camels' were due to play fellow east Africans South Sudan during April in a two-leg preliminary tie.

No explanation was given for the pull-out, but it could be linked to continuous defections when Eritrean football teams visit other countries.

Nine players and a coach disappeared in Kenya last December when Eritrea were eliminated after the group stage of the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup.

President Isaias Afewerki has ruled the one-party Horn of Africa country since independence from Ethiopia 21 years ago. (globalpost.com)