AFCON 2023: Equatorial Guinea humiliate hosts Cote D’Ivoire to make R16

Hosts Cote D’Ivoire have a foot out of their own AFCON after an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea this Monday, January 22.

Emilio Nsue’s brace, a spectacular free kick by Pablo Ganet, and another on the break by Buyla Sam sealed a 4-0 victory for the men of Juan Micha.

The last time a host nation got bottled out of the AFCON was Gabon, in 2017 when the Panthers needed a win against CECAFA neighbors and eventual winners, Cameroon but failed to get it. The Ivorians however, have a chance on thin ice to be one of four best losers if the other teams in different groups do not match their points tally.

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Jean Louis Gasset made four changes from the side that lost against Nigeria, bringing on: Singo, Pepe, Boly and Diakite.

The Elephants started as the side under pressure and were looking to wrap up the game quickly, but bad decisions in the final third by Pepe and co, did not help matters.

15 minutes in, Singo went for a ride with an energetic run but his square ball was flicked by Pepe, into the hands of Owono.

The men of Juan Micha, possibly in a bid to catch their breathe mid first half, started going to ground without physical contacts.

Oumar Diakite was finding some joy down the right but he was unlucky when a ball met him free at the back stick, as he ballooned over the bar at the 25th minute.

On the half hour, Nicolas Pepe was one-v-one with Owono but the Alaves keeper picked his pocket.

It was lovely through ball from Frank Kessie that was killed first time by Kouame, and left for Pepe who advanced, kept his feet despite contact, but had the ball nicked by a vigilant Owono.

Totally against the of play, Equatorial Guinea took the lead at the 41st minute. Full-back Carlos Akapo went for long bursting run on the right channel, dribbling pass Konan and Ndicka before placing perfectly for Nsue, who guided home his fourth of the competition.

In first half added time, Ibrahim Sangare found himself in unusual territory but kept his calm to smash the ball home.

However, the VAR called it offside and Mahmood ruled off referee Ismail’s decision

The Cote D’Ivoire increased aggression and they were cries for penalty when Fofana went down in the latter stages of first half added time, waved away by the referee. However, with the resulting corner, Chaos reigned, only for Ndicka’s header to meet a goal line clearance. Pepe recycled but his overhead kick was cleared.

Cote D’Ivoire came charging where they left off in the first half with Sangare blasting over Owono’s bar from a tight angle at the 46th minute.

While Cote D’Ivoire piled on the pressure, Equatorial Guinea looked the more dangerous. Yahia Fofana had to pull out a strong right hand to deny Saul Basilio’s 54th minute long range free kick.

It was turning into a lightening quick game. Down the other half, Diakite perfectly served sekou Fofana whose header went wide.

Two minutes later, Kouame appeared one-v-one against Owona but the 23-year-old made a point blank save to keep Equatorial Guinea in the lead

Another goal finally came for Cote D’Ivoire 6 minutes after the hour mark only to be cancelled for the second time on the night. Krasso expertly curled pass Owono from a reverse ball by Fofana, only to see it chalked off, and celebrations, short-lived.

Equatorial Guinea constantly posed the threat on set pieces and counters. On a quick counter at the 72nd minute, Boly handled the ball. Pablo Ganet stepped up to score an absolute pitch, right from the top draw, to quench all fire left in the hosts.

2 minutes later, Nsue was set clear again with spaces left in-behind by the Elephants.

Jose Machin squared and the big center forward was in hand to score his second of the night, and 5th of the tournament.

Fans were beyond stunned and began leaving the 60 thousand Stade D’ebimbe.

Equatorial Guinea kept exploring and exploiting, and finally got a fourth from second half substitute, Buyla Sam at the 88th minute.

The humiliation was complete. Equatorial Guinea had done the unthinkable to poke their noses to finish group A without a defeat, scoreline 8 goals in the process.

Hosts Cote D’Ivoire are not out yet but have slim hope of qualifying as third place runners up, which looks very unlikely.