Eritrea: Tekie, Asmelash and Netabay, three players who have already played in European competitions

Tekie, the only Eritrean to have played in all three European competitions

Special Reports Today at 13:17

Add Foot Africa on Google

Eritrea: Tekie, Asmelash and Netabay, three players who have already played in European competitions

Eritrea have three internationals in their squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers who have already played in a European club competition. Tesfaldet Tekie, Hennos Asmelash and Nahom Girmai Netabay have all featured in at least one campaign in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League.

This European experience accompanies Eritrea’s return to the AFCON qualifiers. Eritrea face Kenya this Saturday, September 26, in Nairobi, on the opening matchday of Group D. The Eritrean Football Federation had announced a 30-player squad for this campaign.

Tekie, the only one of the three to have played in all three competitions

Tesfaldet Tekie has the most extensive European experience of the three internationals. The Hammarby midfielder discovered the Champions League with IFK Norrköping during the 2016-2017 season. He notably featured in both qualifying matches against Rosenborg.

His journey continued with Östersunds. During the 2017-2018 season, he played in the Europa League with the Swedish club, which had reached the round of 32. Östersunds faced Arsenal at that stage. Tekie featured in both matches and notably came on during the second leg in London, won 2-1 by the Swedish club. Arsenal nevertheless qualified thanks to their 3-0 victory in the first leg, for a 4-2 aggregate score.

Tekie then returned to European competitions with Hammarby. During the 2026-2027 season, he took part in the Europa League qualifiers before continuing the campaign in the Conference League. UEFA records him as having made two appearances in the Europa League and two in the Conference League this season.

Tesfaldet Tekie scores his second goal of the season and surely it's a goal of the season contender! 🇪🇷💪 pic.twitter.com/jxfp0ikaJ1
— Eritraweyan FTBL (@EritraweyanFTBL) July 16, 2023

Asmelash, from the Champions League to the Conference League

Hennos Asmelash also has recent experience of European football. The Milsami Orhei defender played both matches in the first qualifying round of the 2025-2026 Champions League with the Moldovan club. UEFA credits him with 179 minutes in that campaign.

After Milsami’s elimination from the Champions League, Asmelash continued the European season in the Conference League. He featured in the club’s four qualifying matches in 2025.

His European experience continued in 2026-2027. Still with Milsami, he took part in the club’s two Conference League qualifying matches this season.

Netabay, Conference League experience with Kalmar

Nahom Girmai Netabay completes the trio. The midfielder discovered European competitions with Kalmar FF during the 2023-2024 season, in the Conference League.

On July 27, 2023, he started at home against Pyunik Yerevan in the second qualifying round. Kalmar lost 2-1. Netabay played 64 minutes before leaving the pitch.

He also featured in the second leg in Armenia, where Kalmar won 2-0 and secured qualification for the next round.

Three different European journeys

The three Eritrean internationals therefore do not have the same continental experience. Tekie is the only one to have played in all three European competitions: the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. Asmelash has experience in the Champions League and Conference League, while Netabay discovered the European stage in the Conference League with Kalmar.

These experiences are a distinctive feature of the Eritrean squad competing in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Above all, they reflect the fact that several internationals have played for European clubs and taken part in continental qualifying matches before returning to the national team.