In a jaw-dropping upset at the Africa Cup of Nations, Equatorial Guinea delivered a resounding 4-0 defeat to Ivory Coast, shattering the hosts’ dreams of progressing in the tournament. The victory propelled Equatorial Guinea to the knockout stage as Group A winners, leaving Ivory Coast virtually eliminated from AFCON.
Ivory Coast initially dominated the match, with chances to open the scoring, but former Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe’s wastefulness in front of goal proved costly. Equatorial Guinea turned the tide with captain Emilio Nsue breaking the deadlock in the 42nd minute. Despite VAR disallowing two goals for offside, Equatorial Guinea secured the win with goals from Pablo Ganet, Nsue’s second, and a late strike by Jannick Buyla.
Equatorial Guinea’s captain, Emilio Nsue, emerged as the star of the game with a memorable brace, leading his team to a historic triumph. On the flip side, Nottingham Forest defender Willy Boly had a forgettable night in Ivory Coast’s defense, contributing to the team’s defensive vulnerabilities.
With this stunning victory, Juan Micha’s side secured a spot in the knockout stage as Group A winners and will compete in the round of 16 on January 28. In contrast, Ivory Coast faces virtual elimination, needing to be one of the four best third-placed nations, an unlikely scenario given their current standing.
