Emilio Nsue, Equatorial Guinea’s all-time leading scorer, has been suspended by the FA due to misbehavior at the 2023 AFCON.
During the recently finished 2023 AFCON, Emilio Nsue was Equatorial Guinea’s most prolific goal scorer and took home the Golden Boot.
In the nation’s second group stage matchup with Guinea-Bissau, the 34-year-old CF Intercity attacker scored a hat-trick, leading to a 4-2 triumph.
Emilio Nsue scored two goals against Ivory Coast in their 4-0 thumping of the hosts, who went on to win the tournament, to extend his goal tally in three group stage games to five.
Regretfully, he was unable to replicate the same performance in the round of 16, as Equatorial Guinea, who led Group A with seven points from three games—a point total that was equal to second-place Nigeria—lost to Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea’s fairytale run came to an end in the round of 16 when Guinea defeated them 1-0.
On Sunday, February 11, Ivory Coast defeated the Super Eagles of Nigeria 2-1 to win the tournament. Emilio Nsue traveled to Ivory Coast to pick up his highest goalscorer of the competition title.
Afterward, the Equatorial Guinea FA alleged that Nsue was involved in “several episodes of serious indiscipline” during the tournament. Hence, he has been suspended indefinitely.
This implies that he might not play in the team’s June 3 match against Tunisia and June 10 match against Malawi in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Additionally, Iban Salvador, a 28-year-old midfielder for the team, has been suspended indefinitely for his involvement in a “unpleasant incident” that occurred in Abidjan on January 29, the day after they were defeated 1-0 by Guinea in the round of 16.
Due to police protocol, Equatorial Guinea’s departure from Ivory Coast was purportedly delayed by the event.