2023 AFCON report: Equatorial Guinea v Ivory Coast

by Thando Mpembe

Monday Jan 22, 2024. 21:25

Ivory Coast suffered a shock 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea in their final Group A match at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations this week, as fans at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe were spotted streaming toward the exit doors before the end of the game.

Date: 22 January 2024

Equatorial Guinea: (1) 4 (Nsue 41’, Ganet 73’, Buyla 88’)

Ivory Coast: (0) 0

Equatorial Guinea: Owono, Akapo, Fernandez, Coco, Ndong, Salvador (Nlavo 78’), Ganet (Balboa 85’), Bikoro, Miranda (Buyla 56’), Pepin (Eneme 85’), Nsue (Siafa 78’)

Ivory Coast: Fofana, Konan (Krasso 64’), Ndicka, Boly (Adingra 84’), Singo, Fofana, Kessie, Sangare, Kouame (Konate 65’), Pepe (Boga 65’), Diakite

Ivory Coast found themselves on the front foot for much of the first 45 and created numerous scoring chances going forward. However, Equatorial Guinea sat tight and looked to hit the host nation on the break.

Nonetheless, it was Equatorial Guinea who opened the scoring as Emilio Nsue continued in his fine goal scoring form. Carlos Akapo made Ivory Coast pay for static defending on the edge of their own box as the midfielder picked out Nsue inside the area, who expertly slotted the ball away.

The Elephants managed to find the back of the net shortly before half-time, however, the match officials found Ibrahim Sangare in an offside position at the time of scoring.

Equatorial Guinea were at their clinical best in the second-half, despite being beaten to the ball possession count. All of Nsue, Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla managed to find the back of the net for Nzalang Nacional before the final whistle was blown.

The win saw Equatorial Guinea cement their spot at the top of Group A, while Ivory Coast found themselves finishing in third position.