Thirteen members of an Eritrean football team have failed to return home after a regional tournament in Tanzania, officials say.
After Red Sea FC lost the Cecafa championship semi-final on Saturday, only half of the team turned up for the return flight to Eritrea.
This is said to be the fourth time Eritrean footballers have disappeared.
Young Eritreans often try to escape poverty, a repressive government and national military service.
Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Angetile Osiah told Reuters news agency that the matter had been reported to the law enforcement authorities to investigate.
"Some team members colluded in the incident by trying to stamp the passports of the missing players at airport immigration checkpoints but when a physical head count was conducted, it was discovered that 13 players were missing," he said.
Tanzania's Young Africans beat their rivals Simba 1-0 in Sunday's Cecafa final.
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