Sport in Eritrea
Eritrea is a small country located in the Horn of Africa. However, the size of the country is no reflection of how big their love for the sports of football and cycling. Like most African nations, Eritreans are passionate about football. Although the Eritrea National Football team has had limited success on the international stage, in 1962, when the Ethiopian national team won the 3rd edition of the African Cup of Nations, there were eight Eritrean players in the squad.
When the Eritreans were colonized by Italy, they got exposed to cycling which led Eritrea to its way in being the top cycling nation in the whole of Africa. The Asmara-Keren race is considered as the toughest the country has and the top cyclists in this race will go on and represent the country in international races like the Tour de France as well as the Giro d'Italia.
Cyclists like Natnael Berhane was the first Eritrean cyclist in the Tour de France where he earned him the 'African Sportsman of the Year” title in 2013. Daniel Teklehaimanot on the other hand is the first Eritrean to join the Vuelta a Espana (2012).
In 2021, Eritrea cyclist Biniam Girmay won silver in the under-23 men's road race, becoming the first Eritrean and the first Black African to secure a medal at the UCI Road World Championships.
Volleyball is also increasing in popularity especially among the younger generation.
Eritrea made its first Olympic appearance in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and have been sending athletes to the Summer Games ever since. Zersenay Tadese won the bronze in the men's 10,000 meters and is the only Olympic medalist from the country to date.
Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Eritrea. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.
Popular sports of Eritrea
- Football (Soccer), cycling, volleyball
Eritrea Sporting Success
Great athletes from Eritrea
- Natnael Berhane (cycling)
- Zersenay Tadese (running)
Eritrea Sports trivia
- Zersenay Tadese - won the bronze in the men's 10,000 meters and is the only Olympic Games medalist
Eritrea at major events
Past sporting events hosted in Eritrea
Upcoming sporting events in Eritrea
Annual sporting events held in Eritrea
- Asmara-Keren cycling race
Sporting Facilities in Eritrea
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