TOPS
The Equatorial Guinea national team lived up to its nickname, “the national lightning”, Monday in Abidjan. Led by their captain Emilio Nsue, Juan Micha Obiang Bicogo’s players were surgical against Ivory Coast (4-0), in Group A of the African Cup of Nations. First thanks to Nsue, who opened the scoring at the conclusion of a beautiful rush from Akapo, then upon returning from the locker room, when they moved on at… lightning speed. Ganet stunned the Alassane Ouattara stadium with a masterful free kick before the open house operation in the Ivorian defense. Nsue scored twice and consolidated his position as CAN top scorer with five goals. Buyla, for his part, took advantage of the opponent’s passivity to join the party. With a lower number of chances than their opponents, the Equatorial Guineans were merciless and gave a real lesson in realism to the Ivorians.
Equatorial Guinea’s attackers were not the only ones to shine this Monday, there was the goalkeeper too. Jesus Owono showed impressive courage and threw himself like a starving man at all the balls, like his exit at the feet of Nicolas Pépé in the first half. Yes, he made a few errors with his hands and was not always 100% reassuring, but he knew how to frighten the Ivorian offensives and disgusted an entire nation with his interventions, which earned him the man’s trophy Match.
FLOPS
In the other Group A match, the Nigerian Super Eagles never really took off and were content to do the job against a weak team from Guinea-Bissau (1-0). Osimhen, Simon, Chukwueze, Iwobi, Lookman… The XXL cast of the attack disappoints and has only scored three goals so far, including a penalty and an own goal. So far, it’s without consequence…
Contrary to what one might think given the final score, Ivory Coast had a lot of chances and could even have turned the tide. Except that unlike the Equatorial Guineans, impeccable in front of goal, the Ivorians lacked skill in the last gesture. Pépé, Kouamé, Kessié, Fofana, Sangaré, Krasso… They all tried but all failed. Missing shots, missed crosses… All with two goals scored but refused due to offside, by Sangaré and Krasso. It was definitely not their day.
The supporters present at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium took the humiliation suffered by their national team very badly and tried to make themselves heard. Some left the stands and others threw projectiles at the stewards, and even clashed. These excesses forced the intervention of security who had to escort the players. Even in defeat, these actions are unjustifiable and must be condemned.