Equatorial Guinea Football Federation has announced the indefinite suspension of captain Emilio Nsue and midfielder Iban Salvador due to disciplinary issues.
Nsue, who clinched the Golden Boot at the 2023 AFCON with five goals in four appearances for Equatorial Guinea, has been suspended following allegations of significant indiscipline.
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The 34-year-old striker notably secured a hat-trick in Equatorial Guinea’s 4-2 victory over Guinea-Bissau and added two more goals in the 4-0 win over Ivory Coast. However, his crucial penalty miss in the round of 16 match against Guinea marked the end of Equatorial Guinea’s AFCON journey.
The Equatoguinean Football Federation cited Nsue’s suspension as pending further investigation into the alleged misconduct.
Nsue, who holds the title of all-time top goalscorer for Equatorial Guinea, is just seven appearances away from becoming the country’s most capped player.
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In addition to Nsue’s suspension, midfielder Iban Salvador, of Polish club Miedź Legnica, has also been handed a suspension by the federation. This follows an incident described as ‘unpleasant’ during the team’s stay in Abidjan, which led to a delay in their return and caused reputational damage to both the team and the nation.
The suspensions come at a critical time as Equatorial Guinea prepares for World Cup qualification for the 2026 tournament.
