Eritrea will face Sudan in a play-off for third place in the on-going Cecafa U-20 Challenge Cup in Uganda without four key players who disappeared from the team Hotel.

Haile Efrem Alemseghed confirmed on Friday after training at the Fufa Technical center in Njeru that it is true four players have vanished.

The players who did not feature since they were missing ahead of the semi final clash that Eritrea lost 1-0 to Kenya are reportedly in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

“It is very bad that some of my players disappeared from the Hotel. This is very bad because it has affected the morale of other players,” added the coach.

He made it clear that this business of players defecting is not good for football in Eritrea because they keep losing talent and also spoiling chances of other players. “Every time players defect it means we have to start again afresh to build,” added Alemseghed.

The players who disappeared include; Simon Asmelash Mekonen, Yohannes Hermon Fessehaye, Girmay Hanibal and leading scorer with six goals Yosief Mewael Tesfai.

Nicholas Musonye, the Secretary General of the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (Cecafa) said they have handed the matter to the Ugandan Police to follow-up.