Equatorial Guinea delivered a spectacular performance, defeating Ivory Coast 4-0, leaving the African Cup of Nations host nation teetering on the brink of elimination. The victory secured Equatorial Guinea’s spot in the knockout stage as the Group A winner with seven points.
Emilio Nsue emerged as the hero of the match, scoring twice and solidifying his position as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals. Before halftime, the forward from Equatorial Guinea scored first, then Pablo Ganet scored brilliantly from the free kick, and Nsue added another goal after the break. Jannick Buyla sealed the victory with a goal in the 88th minute, completing the rout on a counterattack.
Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesús Owono, named the man of the match, played a crucial role in denying Ivory Coast’s scoring opportunities, including a one-on-one save against Nicolas Pépé. Despite having two goals disallowed through VAR for offside, Ivory Coast was unable to recover from Equatorial Guinea’s dominant performance.
The “National Thunder” showcased their prowess, securing their place in the knockout stage for only the fourth time in their history. Owono expressed optimism about the team’s future, stating, “I don’t know how far we can go. I know this team will work and do the same thing that we did today to reach as far as possible.”
In the other Group A match, Nigeria secured the second spot with a narrow 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau, securing advancement based on goal difference. Ivory Coast, with three points, is now left hoping to be among the four best third-place finishers who also progress to the last 16.
Meanwhile, in Group B, Egypt booked their place in the last 16 despite conceding a late goal to draw 2-2 against Cape Verde. Jordan Ayew’s two penalties were not enough for Ghana, as they conceded two goals in injury time against Mozambique, resulting in a 2-2 draw and their elimination from the tournament.
Egypt came in second place in Group B with three points, behind Cape Verde who finished first with seven points. Ghana and Mozambique both ended with two points, but Ghana’s inability to finish among the top four third-placed teams dashed their hopes of progressing further.
The absence of injured star Mohamed Salah did not deter Egypt, as substitute Trézéguet played a crucial role in equalising and setting up Mostafa Mohamed’s late goal. The “Blue Sharks” of Cape Verde, unbeaten in the group stage, had the last say as Bryan Teixeira secured a draw against Egypt.
As the Africa Cup of Nations progresses, the unexpected outcomes and dramatic moments continue to captivate football fans worldwide.
