Despite being intransigent that his team were going to win opposing Botswana in a 2018 World Cup qualifying match,[3] Efrem's side lost 2-0 and 3-1 to the Zebras;however, he and 10 players solicited political asylum in Botswana, claiming they were in danger by returning to their homeland but not elucidating why.[4]
The Eritrean coach revealed that he was striving to select emerging young players and Eritrean expatriate footballers in Europe for the national roster in 2015.[5]