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Football in Eritrea has gained a lot of importance in recent times. It is the national sport of Eritrea. The Eritrean football team comprise of talented young players.
Eritrean football was introduced in the year 1930 by Italian colonialists. In the year 1970 football was at its peak. During that time 155 teams participated in the national championship. In the year 1962, the 3rd African Cup of Nations was won by the Ethiopian team, which mostly comprised of Eritrean players. After Eritrea became independent in 1991, it became a part of the continental and regional confederations. Till the age of 40, the teams are required to serve the military force. After winning the football match at the African Military Games, held in Nairobi, Kenya, Eritrean military team represented Africa in September 2006 at the Military world games. A total of 24 trophies were won by the ten teams that participated in the youth games held at Sweden, Austria, Norway and Denmark.
Football matches are usually held at the Asmara sports complex and the Asmara stadium. The First goal project aims at setting up an artificial pitch at Asmara’s Cicero stadium to enhance Football in Eritrea. The national association also plans to have some more pitches to organize important matches at the international as well as domestic level.
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