Inside the Eritrea National Team Camp: Training & Interviews from Nairobi

The Eritrea National Team has been in Nairobi since September 21st, preparing for their inaugural match in AFCON Group D. The team is showing exceptional morale. Today, they received a warm welcome from the Embassy of the State of Eritrea in Kenya and the Eritrean community in Nairobi. During the official welcoming ceremony, Ambassador Beyene Russom delivered a speech recounting his experiences in Eritrean football history and expressing his passion for the sport. He underscored football’s role in uniting people, especially when representing one’s nation, highlighting its importance as a communal endeavour. The ambassador wished the team success and encouraged them to bring pride to Eritrea. In response, the players thanked the Eritrean community for the commendable welcoming ceremony and pledged to represent them honourably. The upcoming match is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, against Kenya, followed by another match on September 30th in Cairo against South Africa. Additionally, I interviewed Daniel Yohannes, Technical Director of the Eritrea National Football Federation (ENFF), who said the team is in high spirits. Assistant Coach Ermias Tewelde elaborated on the potential of the players from various regions and highlighted their progress in fostering a cohesive national team. A representative from the Ministry of Information, Abdelwahib, provided insights regarding the team’s potential and preparation. At the end of the day, I spoke with Abraham Melake, the goalkeeper coach, who expressed satisfaction with the new goalkeepers’ performance. I conducted all these interviews during today’s training session, and they are included in the accompanying video.