Emilio Nsue etched his name into Africa Cup of Nations history with a stunning hat-trick, marking the first since 2008, as Equatorial Guinea triumphed 4-2 over Guinea-Bissau on Thursday, positioning themselves favorably for a spot in the last 16.
Nsue’s exhibition unfolded at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium, where he initiated the scoring in the 21st minute before delivering two more goals in the second half, captivating the sparse crowd with a remarkable performance.
Equatorial Guinea, having previously secured a 1-1 draw against Nigeria, now stands with four points in Group A, sharing the stage with hosts Ivory Coast. Positioned strategically in the competition, the Nzalang Nacional eyes a journey reminiscent of their quarter-final run two years ago.
The 34-year-old Captain Nsue carved his name in the tournament’s annals, becoming the first player to achieve a hat-trick since Soufiane Alloudi’s feat in 2008. Born in Mallorca, Nsue commenced his career with Real Mallorca, amassing over 100 appearances in La Liga.
A former member of Spain’s victorious Under-21 Euro team in 2011, alongside stars like David de Gea and Juan Mata, Nsue later chose to represent his father’s country. He captained Equatorial Guinea during their AFCON semi-final run as hosts in 2015.
After stints in the English Championship with Middlesbrough and Birmingham City, Nsue currently graces the pitch for Intercity in the Spanish third tier, often showcasing his skills as a right-back.
Leading the charge for Equatorial Guinea in this fixture, Nsue opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Despite Guinea-Bissau leveling in the 37th minute due to an own goal by Esteban Orozco, Equatorial Guinea regained the lead early in the second half, courtesy of Josete Miranda.
Nsue then seized the spotlight, converting a cross in the 51st minute and completing his hat-trick by rounding the goalkeeper just after the hour mark. Despite an initial offside ruling, the goal was eventually validated. Guinea-Bissau’s Ze Turbo pulled one back late in the game, but it wasn’t enough to overshadow Nsue’s extraordinary feat.
