Eritrea Appoints First Foreign Coach

After nearly two decades, the Eritrean national football team is embarking on a new chapter, appointing a foreign coach to lead them into their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign.

The Eritrean Football Federation has officially named Egyptian coach Hashim Yakin as the new manager of the senior men’s national team. This marks the first time in 18 years that the side, known as the Red Sea Boys, will be led by a non-Eritrean coach.

Yakin steps into a role that has been filled by local staff since 2008. He is only the second non-Eritrean African to manage the team, following in the footsteps of his compatriot Mushir Osman, who guided the squad during the 1998-1999 period. Yakin’s appointment makes him the second Egyptian to take the helm.

This strategic move signals the federation’s intent to bolster the team’s prospects as they prepare for competitive action.

The new coach’s immediate task will be to ready the squad for the preliminary round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Eritrea is slated to face Eswatini in a two-legged tie. The winner of this encounter will secure a spot in the group stage, keeping alive the dream of qualifying for the continent’s premier football tournament.