Equatorial Guinea Suspends Emilio Nsue Days After AFCON Tournament

Equatorial Guinea’s Football Association has taken the decision to suspend Emilio Nsue, their all-time leading goalscorer, due to his misconduct during the 2023 AFCON.

SportXparte reports that Nsue, who was the most prolific goalscorer for Equatorial Guinea in the tournament, ended his campaign with the Golden Boot.

During the group stage, the 34-year-old CF Intercity forward showcased his skills by scoring a hat-trick in the team’s second game against Guinea-Bissau, leading them to a 4-2 victory.

He continued his impressive form by netting two goals against Ivory Coast in a resounding 4-0 win.

However, Nsue’s performance took a downturn in the round of 16, as Equatorial Guinea fell to Guinea in a 1-0 defeat. Despite finishing at the top of Group A with 7 points, the team’s Fairytale run came to an end.

Following Ivory Coast’s triumph in the tournament, Nsue travelled to collect his highest goalscorer award. However, the Equatorial Guinea FA has accused him of engaging in “several episodes of serious indiscipline” throughout the competition. As a result, Nsue has been suspended indefinitely.

This suspension raises doubts about Nsue’s participation in the team’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Tunisia and Malawi in June.

Equatorial Guinea will also be without their 28-year-old midfielder, Iban Salvador, who has also been suspended indefinitely for his involvement in an “unpleasant incident” in Abidjan.

The incident, which occurred the day after Equatorial Guinea’s defeat to Guinea, caused a delay in the team’s departure from Ivory Coast due to police protocol.