Equatorial Guinea advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations knockout phase after thrashing hosts Ivory Coast 4-0 in their Group A finale on Monday.
The underdog side knew a win or draw would assure progress to the last 16. But they went beyond that by clinching top spot with an emphatic upset victory.
Ivory Coast manager Jean-Louis Gasset shuffled his attack with Nicolas Pepe and Wilfried Singo handed starts. However it was Equatorial Guinea who grabbed the early advantage through Emilio Nsue’s opening goal.
The gulf in quality became apparent in the second half as Equatorial Guinea doubled and then tripled their lead within 15 minutes.
⌚️ FULL-TIME!
— Total Energies AFCON (@TotalAFCON2023) January 22, 2024
A big big win for Nzalang Nacional over the hosts! 🔥#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #EQGCIV pic.twitter.com/YsFqGpgOA2
Pablo Ganet smashed home a superb free kick before Nsue bagged his second to put the game completely out of reach with a clinical counter attacking finish.
Jannick Buyla then added the gloss in the dying minutes to complete the Ivory Coast’s humiliation with a fourth goal.
The shocking defeat sees Ivory Coast – once AFCON trophy favorites – crash out at the group stage instead as Equatorial Guinea advance.
Having won two out of three, Juan Micha’s side capped their impressive first round display in style by dismantling their more vaunted opponents.
Few would have predicted them as group winners when the tournament started. But convincing back-to-back victories have Equatorial Guinea daring to dream as the knockout rounds await.
