Snooping Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria's First Opponent at AFCON 2023 - Everything You Need to Know About this Serial Giant Killers

 

Group A Draw: Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea

Date: 14/01/2024

Day: Sunday

Kick Off Time: 15:00 hrs (3:00pm) 

Venue: Stade Robert Champroux (Abidjan)

HEAD TO HEAD SUMMARY

Nigeria never lost nor draw to Equatorial Guinea in their past three meetings. Nigeria won all the matches. 

Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea predictions could be derived from the H2H stats analysis.

 Equatorial Guinea Records

• FIFA world ranking Dec 2023: 88

• Previous appearances in  afcon finals: (3) 2012, 2015, 2021

• Best performance: Semi-finalists 2015

• Most renowned Victory 2 - 1 against country rivalry Tunisia after extra time (afcon 2015) 

How they qualified: Second placed team in qualifying Group J, behind Tunisia but ahead of Botswana and Libya.

The Make Up of Equatorial Guinea National Team

 Positioned as - Serial Giant Killers

Equatorial Guinea men's football national team fondly called Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder) or Los Elefantes (The Elephants) has gained reputation as serial giant killers and will be competing in their fourth AFCON finals. A country of less than 2 million people move to compete against Nigeria with over 200 million in population. 

In comparison, while Equatorial Guinea's national team are made up of players from the second and third division teams across Europe, Nigeria comes with an intimidating pack of star players, the current 8th best player in the world and African player of the year Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan) , Umar Sadiq (Real Sociedad) who play in the UEFA Champions League, Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Ola Aina (Nottingham forest) in the Premier League, Ademola Lookman (Atlanta) in Seria A, yet Equatorial Guineas refuse to be called underdog. 

Stable Team with Consistent Improvement

Equatorial Guinea was first to submit their team list for 2023 Afcon, the reason being that Equatorial Guinea national team remained with the same players since 2014, with exception of few changes. 

The foundation of the team where built by top coaches from Spain, France and Brazil.  Started building the team by Brazilian Gibson Paulo in 2012, then Spain Andoni Goikoetxea (2013–2014) and to form a formidable team, French coach Franck Dumas started the naturalization of players from (2017–2018)

Legendary French coach Claude Le Roy, in 2012, cheekily said that Equatorial Guinea were acting like the "United Nations of football". The thing is Equatorial Guinea's practice naturalisation of players. Players from Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia and other West African countries have represented Equatorial Guinea as well as players of the country's descendants abroad. 

Current Squad:

Goalkeepers: Aitor Embela (CD Soneja), Manuel Sapunga (Polokwane City), Jesus Owono (Deportivo Alaves)

Defenders: Carlos Akapo (San Jose Earthquakes), Marvin Anieboh (CD Illescas), Hugo Buyla (Sampdoria), Saul Coco (Las Palmas), Jose Elo (Merida), Basilio Ndong (Universitatea Craiova), Charles Ondo (Huddersfield Town), Esteban Orozco (Arges), Nestor Senra (Real Aviles Industrial)

Midfielders: Luis Asue (Sporting Braga), Alex Balboa (Huesca), Federico Bikoro (Club Africain), Jannick Buyla (Logrones), Santiago Eneme (MFK Vyskov), Pablo Ganet (Alcoyano), Jose Machin (Monza), Josete Miranda (Niki Volou), Federico Nguema (CSF Balti), Iban Salvador (Miedz Legnica)

Forwards: Noe Ela (Numancia), Jose Nabil (Cano Sport), Emilio Nsue (Inter City), Salomon Obama (Santa Coloma), Oscar Siafa (Alessandria).

Coach: Juan Micha

The 48-year-old former international had some coaching experience in Spain at Fuenlabrada before returning home to join the local football federation, coaching first the women’s teams before taking on the under-17 team. He was asked to step in as a caretaker coach in November 2020 in the Cup of Nations qualifiers and after the side won key games, was offered an initial one-year contract. But that was extended after the heroics of the last finals in Cameroon where an upset win over Algeria in the group phase was followed by progress to the last eight for the small central African nation.

Team Formation

The prior to this time Equatorial Guinea preferred to play 4-4-2 formation, but currently play more of 4-1-4-1 formation they crowd the midfield in a zonal defending style and go on intermittent counter attacks especially when they are up against big teams like Nigeria. 

It is difficult so score the equatorial Guinea's because of their compact play and mental alertness to compete intensively. They also have a very good goalkeeper behind the post. 

Plans against Nigeria, and Other Group A Matches

Equatorial Guinea plan to draw or possibly upset Nigeria to leap start their Afcon 2023 campaign. This will affect the way they will play, to soak up pressure and counter attack when the opportunity comes. If Equatorial Guinea score Nigeria first, the match will be very difficult for Super Eagles. 

Equatorial Guinea in their permutation plan to draw against Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire, then a win again Guinea Bissau could get them to the round of 16, in current the 24 teams for format. 

Key players: 

On man Equatorial Guinea's believe will always cause the damage upfront is intercity man Emilio Nsue

Magic Man, Emilio Nsue,  34 years, who plays as right back for Spanish Premiera side Intercity, but play as a lone striker for Equatorial Guinea national team. Very strong and powerful on the ball, with some defy touches. 

Emilio Nsue started playing for Spanish under 15, then U17, and when he realised that he cannot be part of the Spanish football project, he turned to Equatorial Guinea for an opportunity to play at AFCON and perhaps, play in the world Cup some day. 

The whole of Equatorial Guinea believe Emilio Nsue will do it again in 2023, and the team have a lofty target of reaching the finals. Who said they can't win the cup. 

Saul Coco. Age: 24 Defender from Las Palmas

Born in Lanzarote on the Canary Islands with his father from Equatorial Guinea, he is the only player in a squad heavily populated by Spanish-based players who competes regularly in LaLiga, having won promotion last season with Las Palmas. He played a pivotal role last season as his club finished second to win automatic promotion. He was centre back at the last finals in Cameroon and did not miss a minute for Equatorial Guinea in their giant killing run to the quarter-finals.