AFCON golden boot stripped! Nsue’s ban costs Equatorial Guinea World Cup hopes

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Equatorial Guinea faces significant sanctions from FIFA after the football governing body ruled that their captain, Emilio Nsue, was ineligible to represent the country throughout his 11-year international career.

Nsue, the top scorer at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations with five goals, has been handed a six-month ban from international football. Additionally, Equatorial Guinea has been fined 150,000 Swiss francs ($164,000) and stripped of victories earned in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Namibia and Liberia.

This decision stems from a previous ruling in December 2013, where FIFA deemed Nsue ineligible due to his appearances for Spain’s youth teams. Despite this, Nsue continued to represent Equatorial Guinea.

In March, FIFA opened a new investigation, demanding a response from Nsue within six days. However, FIFA received no reply, leading to the current sanctions.

As a result of Nsue’s ineligibility, Equatorial Guinea’s 1-0 wins over Namibia and Liberia in their World Cup qualifiers have been overturned. Their opponents have now been awarded 3-0 victories.

This ruling serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to player eligibility regulations. Nsue’s ban and the loss of crucial World Cup qualifying points represent a heavy penalty for Equatorial Guinea.