The host nation Ivory Coast faces the risk of a shock exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) after suffering a stunning defeat to Equatorial Guinea in Abidjan. Equatorial Guinea secured a memorable 4-0 victory, sealing the top spot in Group A and leaving the Ivory Coast in third place.
Emilio Nsue’s double, Pablo Ganet’s long-range free-kick, and Yannick Buyla’s late goal contributed to Equatorial Guinea’s historic win, stunning the home crowd and the Ivorian team. Ibrahim Sangare had two equalizers ruled out for the Ivory Coast, and despite numerous chances, they were unable to find the net.
The defeat leaves the Ivory Coast in a precarious position, finishing third in the group. The top two teams from each group advance automatically, and the four best third-placed teams from the six groups also progress to the last 16. The Ivory Coast will now have to wait for the conclusion of other group-stage matches to see if they can secure a spot in the knockout stages.
Equatorial Guinea’s victory is considered one of the biggest surprises in Afcon history. They finished above both the Ivory Coast and three-time champions Nigeria, securing their place at the top of Group A. Equatorial Guinea will face a third-placed team from Group C, D, or E in the last 16.
The defeat of the Ivory Coast led to a disappointed and angry reaction from the home crowd, with some Ivorian players in tears at the final whistle. The Equatorial Guinea team, on the other hand, celebrated wildly, marking another significant achievement in their Afcon campaign.
The Ivory Coast’s qualification hopes will depend on the results of the remaining group-stage matches, adding tension and uncertainty to their Afcon journey.