AFCON

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

Emilo Nsue of Equatorial Guinea

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.

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