Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Eritrea has pulled out of the qualification campaign for the 2015 Africa Nations Cup without any reason given.
However, reports indicate that recent defections by players may have led to the decision. Seventeen players from the Eritrean squad, plus the team doctor, absconded at the 2012 East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup in Uganda.
In 2011, 13 Eritrean players sought asylum in Tanzania after the same tournament, while 12 members of the Eritrea squad disappeared and sought asylum in Kenya during the regional tournament in 2009.
Four Eritrean athletes also left their base and sought political asylum in Britain after the London Olympics in 2012.
Further, BBC Sport reveals that between 2,000 and 3,000 Eritreans flee the small east African country every month, a United Nations report said last year.
The side was due to face fellow Cecafa nation South Sudan in the first round of the preliminary phase over two legs in April but their withdraw implies that the Bright Stars of South Sudan go through to the preliminary phase second round.
South Sudan will find out who they will play in the second round when the draw is made on Sunday, 27 April in Cairo.
