Equatorial Guinea national football team
The Equatorial Guinea national football team, nicknamed Nzalang Nacional, represents Equatorial Guinea in international football and is controlled by the Equatoguinean Football Federation, a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
| Nickname(s) | Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Equatoguinean Football Federation | ||
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
| Sub-confederation | UNIFFAC (Central Africa) | ||
| Head coach | Juan Obiang Ndong | ||
| Captain | Emilio Nsue | ||
| Most caps | Juvenal (39) | ||
| Top scorer | Emilio Nsue (11) | ||
| Home stadium | Estadio de Malabo | ||
| FIFA code | EQG | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 145  | ||
| Highest | 49 (February 2015) | ||
| Lowest | 195 (December 1998) | ||
| First international | |||
  (China; 23 May 1975) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
 (Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; 4 September 2016) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
 (Congo; 13 December 1990) | |||
| Africa Cup of Nations | |||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2012) | ||
| Best result | Fourth place, 2015 | ||
The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations twice, both as hosts in 2012 and 2015. It reached the quarter-finals of the former and came fourth at the latter.
History
Equatorial Guinea played its first match on 23 May 1975 against China in a friendly, losing 6–2. They did not play another game until entering the 1985 UDEAC Cup in December 1985. They were drawn in a group against the hosts Congo and Central African Republic. They lost 5–0 to the Congo on 9 December and then earned their first draw by drawing 1–1 against the Central African Republic on 14 December. On 16 December, they played a play-off for fifth place against Chad, and lost 3–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.[2]
Equatorial Guinea would come in fourth in the 1987 UDEAC Cup, losing on penalties in the third place match to Gabon, even though they only scored one goal throughout the tournament in a 1–1 draw against Chad. They also drew 0–0 against Cameroon. On their next attempt, they got sixth place after losing on penalties against the Central African Republic. The next time Equatorial Guinea played the Central African Republic, in 1999, they won, 4–2. It was Equatorial Guinea's first win.[2]
In the late 2000s, the Equatoguinean Football Federation, along with the Gabonese Football Federation, announced a bid to host the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, against bids from other African nations including Angola, Libya and Nigeria. Equatorial Guinea and Gabon won the right to host the games,[3] and two new stadiums were built in Equatorial Guinea: Estadio de Bata in Bata and Estadio de Malabo in Malabo.[4]
The first game in the 2012 African Cup of Nations was Equatorial Guinea's first in a major international tournament, and resulted in a historic 1–0 win over Libya on 21 January 2012 in the opening game of the tournament. An 87th-minute strike from former Real Madrid winger Javier Balboa earned the victory.[5] In the next game, they secured the qualification for the quarter-finals by beating Senegal 2–1,[6] and finished second in their group after losing 0–1 to Zambia.[7] They progressed to the quarter-finals where they were eliminated by the tournament's runners-up Ivory Coast after losing to The Elephants 3–0 thanks to goals from Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré.[8] Various national side players were praised due to their performances in the tournament, including Javier Balboa, Randy, Ben Konaté and Rui, the latter a part of the Team of the Tournament.[9]
Three years later, Equatorial Guinea organized solely the 2015 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, but on this occasion, it was to replace Morocco, which was the original host. In the opener, they drew 1–1 against Congo, with Emilio Nsue opening the scoring. In the second game, they managed to play out a 0–0 draw with Burkina Faso, the runners-up of the previous edition. With these two results, the Nzalang Nacional had to win against its classic rival Gabon in the third match in order to qualify for the quarter-finals. Equatorial Guinea won 2–0 with goals from Javier Balboa (a penalty kick) and Ibán. As Group A's runner-up, the Equatoguinean national team then defeated Tunisia 2–1 with two goals from Balboa, the first being a penalty kick in the final moments of the regular time, and the second was in extra time. In the semi-final, however, they lost 0–3 to Ghana, and in the match for third place, drew 0–0 against DR Congo, ultimately losing 2–4 on penalties. The country finished the tournament in fourth place, being its best international participation to date and helping it reach a historical 49th position in the FIFA rankings.
Naturalised players controversy
In recent years, Equatorial Guinea has courted controversy by recruiting foreign players and giving them citizenship despite having little or no ties to the country. In 2009, South African journalist and FIFA archivist Mark Gleeson wrote that it was undermining the integrity of African football.[10]
In late 2005, and at the request of Ruslán Obiang Nsue, a son of President Teodoro Obiang, Brazilian coach Antônio Dumas recruited several Brazilian players to represent the Equatorial Guinea but the CAF and FIFA turned a blind eye, despite complaints from other nations.
In 2012, having lost the first leg of a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification round 4–0 to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea recruited nine Brazilian players to help overturn the deficit for the second leg. The team did manage to win the match 2–1, but it was not enough to overturn the aggregate and Equatorial Guinea were eliminated from the tournament. DR Congo head coach Claude Le Roy complained that the Equatorial Guinea were acting like the "United Nations of football".
Before the arrival of new coach Andoni Goikoetxea to Malabo, in March 2013, the Equatoguinean board made the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Cape Verde and again called-up nine Brazilian players.[11] In May 2013, they joined Colombian-born, Ecuadorian-based Jimmy Bermúdez, to who was going to pay him €3,000 for each match he plays.[12]
During the qualifiers, in the series played against Mauritania, the Nzalang Nacional lost 1–0 away and won 3–0 in Malabo, qualifying to the next round to face Uganda. However, the Mauritanian Football Federation Submitted a complaint to CAF about the inclusion of ineligible players by Equatorial Guinea (Some with fake passports and false names), resulting in the expulsion of the Equatorial Guinean team, based on the particular situation of Thierry Fidjeu, while the cases of the other players remained under investigation.
Home stadium
Equatorial Guinea's home stadium is Estadio de Malabo in Malabo. It can hold up to 15,250 people. Equatorial Guinea played there when they hosted the 2012 African Cup of Nations During their participation in the tournament, they played in this stadium against eventual winners Zambia and runners-up the Ivory Coast. During the national side's participation in the 2012 African Cup of Nations, they also played in the newly constructed Estadio de Bata, in which they played and won both their games in the stadium against Libya and Senegal.[4]
Kit and colors
Equatorial Guinea wears a red and white uniform. The kit manufacturer is Adidas. When they play in Equatorial Guinea, they wear a solid red jersey and matching shorts with white stripes. The number, FEGUIFUT logo, and Adidas logo are located on the chest. The socks are red with white at the top.[13] When Equatorial Guinea is away, they wear all white shirt with blue stripes.
Achievements
- CEMAC Cup: 1
- 2006
World Cup record
| FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup qualification record | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
  |
Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
  |
Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | ||||||||
 |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
 |
6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 10 | |||||||||
 |
8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 17 | |||||||||
 |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
 |
To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||
.svg.png){kind=small}   | |||||||||||||||
| Total | – | 0/21 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 20 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 17 | 36 | |
Africa Cup of Nations record
| Africa Cup of Nations record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host nation(s) / Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
.svg.png){kind=small} .svg.png){kind=small} | Part of  | |||||||
 | Not affiliated to CAF | |||||||
 | Withdrew | |||||||
 | Did not qualify | |||||||
  | Did not enter | |||||||
| Withdrew | |||||||
   | Did not enter | |||||||
  | Did not qualify | |||||||
 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Did not qualify | |||||||
| Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Did not qualify | |||||||
 | To be determined | |||||||
 | ||||||||
 | ||||||||
| Total | Fourth place | 2/32 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
Recent schedule and results
The following is a list of match results from the previous 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Postponed
2019
| 4 September 2022 FIFA WCQ | South Sudan | 1–1 | | Omdurman, Sudan |
| 16:00 UTC+2 | Kata  |
Report (FIFA) | Meseguer |
Stadium: Al-Hilal Stadium Referee: Abdulwahid Huraywidah (Libya) |
| Note: South Sudan played their home match this round in Sudan due to their national stadium undergoing renovations. | ||||
| 8 September 2022 FIFA WCQ | Equatorial Guinea | 1–0 (2–1 agg.) | | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
| 17:00 UTC+1 | Nsue |
Report (FIFA) | Stadium: Estadio de Malabo Referee: Mahmood Ali Ismail (Sudan) |
| 22 September 2020 ANC Q. | Equatorial Guinea | 2–2 |  | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
| 17:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Estadio de Malabo |
| 13 October Friendly | Equatorial Guinea | 1–1 |  | Mallemort, France |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Stade d'Honneur Marcel Roustan Referee: Sylvain Palhies (France) |
| 20 October 2020 ANC Q. | Congo | 1–0 (3–2 agg.) | | Republic of the Congo |
| 16:00 UTC+1 | Bakoua |
| 15 November 2021 AFCONQ | Tanzania  | 2–1 | | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| 19:00 UTC+3 |
|
Stadium: National Stadium |
| 19 November 2021 AFCONQ | Equatorial Guinea | 0–1 | | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
| 20:00 UTC+1 |
|
Stadium: Estadio de Malabo |
2020
| 23 March 2020 2021 AFCONQ | Libya  | Postponed | | [note 1] |
| --:-- |
| 31 March 2020 2021 AFCONQ | Equatorial Guinea | Postponed | | |
| --:-- UTC+1 |
| 1 June 2020 2021 AFCONQ | Equatorial Guinea | v | | |
| --:-- UTC+1 |
| 31 August 2020 2021 AFCONQ | Tunisia | v | | |
| --:-- UTC+1 |
Players
Current squad
The following players had been called up for two 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group J matches against Libya on 23 and 31 March 2019, respectively.[14] The matches have been later postponed by CAF due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]
Caps and goals updated as of 19 November 2019 after the friendly match against Tunisia.[16]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Felipe Ovono | 26 July 1993 | 40 | 0 | | |
| GK | Jesús Owono | 1 March 2001 | 1 | 0 | | |
| GK | Marcos Ondo | 13 August 2000 | 1 | 0 | | |
| DF | Rui Fernando | 28 May 1985 | 31 | 1 | | |
| DF | Igor Engonga | 4 January 1995 | 22 | 1 |  | |
| DF | Basilio Ndong | 17 January 1999 | 15 | 0 | .svg.png){kind=small} | |
| DF | Carlos Akapo | 12 March 1993 | 14 | 1 | | |
| DF | Cosme Anvene | 3 March 1990 | 7 | 0 | | |
| DF | Miguel Nzang | 27 July 1990 | 7 | 0 | | |
| DF | Luis Meseguer | 7 September 1999 | 6 | 1 | | |
| DF | Esteban Obiang | 7 May 1998 | 4 | 0 | | |
| DF | Marvin Anieboh | 26 August 1997 | 1 | 0 | | |
| MF | Emilio Nsué (C) | 30 September 1989 | 23 | 11 |  | |
| MF | Iban Salvador | 11 December 1995 | 21 | 2 | | |
| MF | Pablo Ganet | 4 November 1994 | 19 | 2 | Unattached | |
| MF | Nicolás Kata | 15 January 1993 | 13 | 0 | Unattached | |
| MF | José Machín | 14 August 1996 | 8 | 0 |  | |
| MF | Pedro Obiang | 27 March 1992 | 7 | 2 | | |
| MF | Federico Nsue | 20 April 1997 | 2 | 0 | | |
| FW | Kike Boula | 17 July 1993 | 29 | 0 | | |
| FW | José Miranda | 22 July 1998 | 17 | 1 | | |
| FW | Pedro Oba | 18 May 1996 | 8 | 1 | | |
| FW | Jordan Nsang | 8 July 1998 | 6 | 0 | | |
| FW | Luis Nlavo | 30 November 2002 | 2 | 2 |  | |
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up in the last 12 months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Aitor Embela | 17 April 1996 | 5 | 0 | |
v. |
| GK | Leopoldo Kofi | 17 April 2002 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| GK | Santos Moro | 0 | 0 | |
v. | |
| DF | Rubén Belima | 11 February 1992 | 21 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Saúl Coco | 9 February 1999 | 5 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Jorge Akapo | 21 November 1992 | 2 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Vicente Asumu | 30 October 2002 | 2 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Miguel Boriba | 14 May 1990 | 7 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Sergio Akieme | 16 December 1997 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Diosdado Mbele | 8 April 1997 | 30 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Juan Mbo | 13 September 1991 | 1 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Marcelo Asumu | 16 January 1992 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | José Ondo | 0 | 0 | |
v. | |
| MF | Federico Bikoro | 17 March 1996 | 22 | 1 | |
v. |
| MF | Jannick Buyla | 6 October 1998 | 3 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | Santiago Eneme | 29 September 2000 | 7 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | Carlos Briones | 18 February 1990 | 0 | 0 | Unattached | v. |
| MF | Christian Obiang | 8 October 1999 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | James Davis | 5 July 1995 | 5 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | Deogracias Biribé | 27 March 1997 | 1 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | Jesús Mansogo | 16 October 1998 | 1 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | José Fidel Sipi | 7 January 2001 | 1 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | Juan Pastor Mbo | 0 | 0 | |
v. | |
| MF | Martín Nguema | 26 August 1997 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| FW | Joanet Elo | 1 March 1999 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| FW | Celesdonio Abeso | 15 August 1998 | 1 | 0 | |
v. |
| FW | Ismael Lohoba | 13 March 1999 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| FW | Pablo Sopale | 25 July 2001 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| FW | José Ángel Efa | 29 January 1992 | 1 | 1 | |
v. |
| FW | Benjamín Edú | 13 March 1999 | 1 | 0 | |
v. |
| FW | José Fabio Micha | 20 June 1994 | 1 | 0 | |
v. |
| FW | Cristóbal Mikó | 14 August 2000 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| FW | José Manuel Obono | 0 | 0 | |
v. | |
Notes:
- (PRE) Preliminary squad
- (RET) Retired from the national team
- (INJ) Injured
- (REJ) Rejected the call up
Coaches
.svg.png)
Notes
- Libya will play their home matches outside Libya due to security concerns from the ongoing civil war.
References
- "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- "Equatorial Guinea - List of International Matches". rsssf.com. RSSSF. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- "Angola to host 2010 Nations Cup". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2006.
- "Nuevo Estadio de Malabo". stadiumguide.com. The Stadium Guide. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- "Balboa dá vitória à Guiné Equatorial" [Balboa gives the victory to Equatorial Guinea]. abola.pt. A Bola. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
- "Africa Cup of Nations: Equatorial Guinea in quarters as Senegal crash out". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- "Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia book quarter-final slot". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 29 January 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- "Ivory Coast 3−0 Equatorial Guinea". espn.com. ESPN. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- "Orange CAN 2012 Best XI". cafonline.com. Confédération Africaine de Football. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- "African football's integrity is undermined, by Mark Gleeson". WorldSoccer.com. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- "Volante Neto é convocado pela Seleção de Guiné Equatorial" [Midfielder Neto is called for the national team of Equatorial Guinea] (in Portuguese). Barretos Esporte Clube. 10 March 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- "Archived copy" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2013-06-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Equatorial Guinea ANC Puma Home Shirt 2012". Football Shirts. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
- "Total AFCON 2021 qualifiers postponed". CAF. 13 March 2020.
- https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/qatar2022/preliminaries/africa/matches/match/400087250/#match-timeline
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Equatorial Guinea national football team. |
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