Eritrea-based football players, who went to Namibia for a World Cup qualifying match, each reportedly, gave a bond equivalent to $7,000 (£5,600) as a security to return home after the match.

This has been the norm in Eritrea for home-based players to provide a guarantee before travelling for international tournament.

"The home-based players are asked to provide a bond of 100,000 nakfa/$7,000 or a title deed as a guarantee.’’ a source told Radio Erena, a Paris-based radio station which broadcasts news in Tigrinya and Arabic into Eritrea.

In the past, there have been a number of mass defections by Eritrean athletes.

In 2015, 10 players from the Eritrean national football team refused to return home after playing a World Cup qualifying match in Botswana, which neighbors Namibia, and later sought asylum there.

In Tuesday’s match, Eritrea lost to Namibia 2-0.

Source: BBC