Football stadiums in Eritrea
| Stadium | Capacity | City | Tenants | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cicero Stadium | 6,000 | Asmara | Eritrea national football team, Red Sea FC | |
| Joko Keren Stadium | 5,000 | Keren |  |
| Football in Eritrea | |
|---|---|
| Governing body | Eritrean National Football Federation |
| National team(s) | national football team |
Club competitions | |
International competitions | |
Champions League CAF Confederation Cup Super Cup FIFA Club World Cup FIFA World Cup(National Team) African Cup of Nations(National Team) | |
Football is the most popular sport in Eritrea. After being under Ethiopian control, Eritrea gained its independence in 1991 [1] and in 1998 the country became a member of FIFA.
The football in Eritrea was started during colonial times in Italian Asmara, [2] when the Italians ruled the country. The first championship (amateur) was in 1936: [3] the most important teams were "Gruppo Sportivo Cicero" (later Asmara Calcio and in the late 1940s renamed "GS Asmara"), "Gruppo Rionale Neghelli", "GS Zuco", "GS Melotti", "GS Ferrovieri", "GS Marina' and the "GS Decamerè". In December 1936 the first six indigenous Eritrean teams started to compete in their own league (separate from the Italian league) and the best 3 native clubs (all having Italian names) were: "Ardita", "Savoia", "Vittoria". [4]
The second championship was done in 1937 and was directly affiliated to the Italian Football Championship, as serie "D" or fourth level. It was divided in "Direttori" and Eritrea was the Direttorio XXIII Zona (Eritrea). The teams in the first Eritrean "Divisione" were:
The 1937 teams in the second Eritrean "Divisione" (amateur) were: G.S. 175ª Compagnia Radio Genio (B), Asmara; Aerobase; G.S. Capronia; Dopolavoro Gondrand and Zuco.
The first football stadium was built in 1938 Asmara during the Italian colonial period by the Italian businessman Francesco Cicero [5] and since then it is called Cicero Stadium. It was later used by the GS Asmara , the team winner of the first professional football championships in Eritrea with the Asmara-born Luciano Vassalo.
For the first time ever, an indigenous club, "Hamasien" (formed in 1944 with the best players of the existing indigenous clubs), was admitted to the "Eritrean Calcio-Football League"; 9 years after the first local clubs were founded (Hamasien finished 2nd; 1944 champions: GS Asmara). [6]
In the late 1940s the Asmara Calcio was renamed "GS Asmara", [7] won the Eritrean Championship in 1945-1947-1949.
In 1950, Eritrean (local) clubs set up their own football federation, which was joined by three of the old Italian colonial clubs ("Eritrea", "GS Asmara" and "Gejeret"). The league contained about 30 clubs, divided over 3 levels ("Serie A", "Serie B" and Serie C"). In 1953, the clubs were forced to join the Ethiopian Football Association. [8]
Between 1953 and the Eritrean full independence in 1993, Eritrean teams played in the Ethiopian Premier League, winning that league's championship 9 times. These Eritrean team champions were "Hamassien, "Akale Guzay", "Tele S.C.", "GS Asmara" and "Embassoyra":
Two of the most famous Eritrean footballers in Eritrean History football, Luciano Vassalo and his brother Italo, played for the Ethiopia national football team (because Eritrea was annexed to Ethiopia in those years) in the qualifying rounds for the 1962 FIFA World Cup [9] and won the 1962 African Cup of Nations (when Ethiopia obtained their only international trophy to date).
After being under Ethiopian control, Eritrea gained its independence in 1991-1993. [10] In 1998 the country became a member of FIFA.
Though in Eritrea Football Federation was formed in 1936, during the Italian colonialism, allowing indigenous teams to be established and run their own tournaments, it was nonetheless under the scrutiny and control of the Italians. The free and independent Football Federation was formed during the period of federation (1952-1962). After Ethiopia illegally annexed Eritrea the Football Federation had to go to back where it was during the Italian rule. Under heavy control. According to a document from the National Football Federation of Eritrea, the ENFF was re-established in 1992 following the nation’s independence and had its first statute in 1996 and was modified in 1998, totally based on the provisions of international standard of CAF and FIFA.The Eritrean National Football Federation included six committees: Finance, Competitions, Referees, Technical, Women and Public Relations.Eritrea Ministry of Information [11]
Since 1996 the Eritrean National Football Federation organizes the Eritrean Premier League and the Eritrea national football team. Most of the Eritrean Championships have been won by Red Sea FC (12 times) and by Adulis Club (3 times).
In recent years -because of dire economic and socio-political reasons- there have been many refugees leaving Eritrea and some football athletes travelling to competitions abroad have taken the opportunity to abscond. Indeed nine players and the national Eritrean team's coach disappeared in Kenya in December 2013. [12]
Furthermore, in 2018 World Cup qualification 10 players from the Eritrean football team have refused to return home after playing a World Cup qualifying match in Botswana and have been granted asylum there. [13]
In 2015 and 2016 the Eritrean championship has not been done for various reasons. [14]
| Stadium | Capacity | City | Tenants | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cicero Stadium | 6,000 | Asmara | Eritrea national football team, Red Sea FC | |
| Joko Keren Stadium | 5,000 | Keren | |
Zula ግእዝ ዙላ saba ሰብኣ 𐩸𐩡 is a small town in central Eritrea. It is situated near the head of Annesley Bay, on the Red Sea coast. Four kilometers away is the archeological site of Adulis, which was an emporium and the port of Axum.
Potenza Calcio S.r.l., formerly A.S.D. Rossoblù Potenza F.C. or just Potenza F.C., is an Italian football club based in Potenza, Basilicata. It currently plays in the Serie C.
Cicero Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Asmara, Eritrea. The stadium was designed by Malaysian architect, Michael KC Cheah, who went onto consult on the construction of Oman's Royal Oman Police Stadium. With a capacity of 6,000, it is currently used mostly for association football matches.
The Ethiopian Premier League, known as the BetKing Ethiopian Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is the top tier association football league of Ethiopia run by the Ethiopian Premier League Share Company. Established in 1997, it replaced the former first division. Contested by sixteen clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the other secondary and tertiary leagues in Ethiopia. The league has been an annual competition since the 1997–98 season with Saint George emerging as the country's leading club in this era with 15 titles.
The Eritrean Premier League is the highest division in football in Eritrea. The league was delivered in 1994 to the first time.
Asmara Brewery FC or Asmara Birra is an Eritrean football club based in Asmara and founded in 1944. It is linked and economically maintained by the Asmara Brewery.
Asmara Brewery is a brewery in Eritrea, founded in 1938. The brewery was nationalized by the Derg during the Eritrean War of Independence. The brewery operates a football team, which plays in the Eritrean Premier League. The factory has over 600 employees.
The provinces of Eritrea existed since pre-Axumite times and became administrative provinces from Eritrea's incorporation as a colony of Italy until the conversion of the provinces into administrative regions. Many of the provinces had their own local laws since the 13th century.
{{Infobox football biography | name = Luciano Vassallo | image = | caption = | full_name = | birth_date = 15 August 1935 | birth_place = Asmara, Italian Eritrea | death_date = 16 September 2022 (aged 87) | death_place = Ostia, Italy | height = | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = 1950–1952 | youthclubs1 = Stella Asmarina | youthyears2 = 1952–1953 | youthclubs2 = Ferrovieri Asmara | years1 = 1953–1958 | clubs1 = GS Gejeret | years2 = 1958–1960 | clubs2 = Asmara Calcio | years3 = 1960–1973 | clubs3 = Cotton Factory Club | nationalyears1 = 1960–1971 | nationalteam1 = Ethiopia | nationalcaps1 = 104 | nationalgoals1 = 47 | manageryears1 = 1968–1973 | managerclubs1 = Cotton Factory Club | manageryears2 = 1969–1970 | managerclubs2 = Ethiopia | manageryears3 = 1974 | managerclubs3 = Ethiopia | manageryears4 = 1974 | managerclubs4 = Saint George | manageryears5 = 1975 | managerclubs5 = Air Force FC | manageryears6 = 1976 | managerclubs6 = EEPCO F.C. | manageryears7 = 1978 | managerclubs7 = Ethiopia | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Country|{{|ETH}}}} |- ! Men's football |- ! Africa Cup of Nations |- | Winner| 1962 Ethiopia| }}
Italo Vassallo was an Italian-Eritrean footballer. He played for Ethiopia internationally, scoring in their 1962 Africa Cup of Nations final victory over Egypt. His half-brother is Luciano Vassallo, a former footballer for the Ethiopian team.
Red Sea Football Club is an Eritrean professional football club based in Asmara. They compete in the Eritrean Premier League, the top division of Eritrean football. With 13 league titles, they are the most successful club in the country.
Associazione Calcio Cantù Gruppo Sportivo San Paolo Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica is an Italian association football club, based in Cantù, Lombardy. Cantù San Paolo will play in Eccellenza.
Tele SC Asmara is an Eritrean football club based in Asmara. The team -usually called "Tele S.C."- is a member of the Eritrean Football Federation national league.
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Asmara, Eritrea. Asmara was under Italian colonial rule from 1889 until 1941.
Asmara Calcio was the Italian Eritrea football team of Asmara, created during colonial times.
The 2019 Eritrean Premier League was the 2019 season of the Eritrean Premier League, the top-level football championship of Eritrea.
Ali Sulieman Salih is an Eritrean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ethiopian Premier League club Hawassa City and the Eritrea national team.
Michael Habte is an Eritrean footballer who plays for Adulis Club of the Eritrean Premier League, and the Eritrea national team.
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