The Eritrean football team that gave everybody the slip in Kenya are welcome to return home according to the country’s officials.

Speaking to BBC, Information Minister Ali Abdu claimed that the players will receive a "good welcome" despite "betraying" their country.

After participating in a regional tournament in Kenya 12 players have yet to return confirmed the official.

According to the UN the twelve players are part of hundreds of Eritreans who flee from the country on a monthly basis due to government repression, poverty and a harsh national service regime.

However, the Eritreans government has refuted this figures and have accused the UN of fabricating the numbers.

Despite claiming that the players' actions was "not good news" on BBC's Focus on Africa, Mr Ali continued to add, "This is their country. They are entitled to live and work in their country, if they come back."

The government had earlier denied claims that only the team coach and official were aboard the plane that landed in the country's capital after the Cecafa competition for East and Central African nations last week.

This is not the first time that the Eritrean team has vanished after a tournament, according to Cecafa head Nicholas Musonye who spoke to BBC, this is the third time.

AFP reported that the Eritrea government had enforced a rule to prevent sportsmen from fleeing in 2007, by forcing all travelling athletes to deposit 100,000 nakfa ($6,600) before leaving the country.