Equatorial Guinea’s captain, Emilio Nsue, etched his name in TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations history by scoring a hat-trick during the group stages of the Cote d’Ivoire 2023 edition. Nsue, 34, achieved a remarkable feat as the first player to achieve a hat-trick in the competition since 2008, contributing significantly to Equatorial Guinea’s 4-2 victory over Guinea-Bissau on January 18.
This historic performance has been a long-awaited moment, with a 16-year gap since the last hat-trick in the competition. Nsue currently leads the goal-scoring charts in Cote d’Ivoire with a total of 5 goals, standing as the sole player to secure a hat-trick in this year’s edition.
The CF Intercity striker, who had previously found the net only once in his 2015 and 2021 AFCON appearances, has fulfilled his promise of delivering an outstanding performance on the field. Nsue’s stellar form has played a pivotal role in Equatorial Guinea finishing at the top of Group A with 7 points, including a noteworthy 4-0 victory over tournament hosts, Cote d’Ivoire.
As the 17th player in AFCON history to achieve a hat-trick since 1957, Nsue’s fairy-tale journey continues to captivate fans and contribute to the surprising success of his team in the competition.
