Nsue scores first Afcon hat-trick since 2008 in Equatorial Guinea win

Emilio Nsue scored the primary Africa Cup of Nations hat-trick since 2008 as Equatorial Guinea beat Guinea-Bissau 4-2 on Thursday to shut in on a spot within the final 16.

Nsue opened the scoring halfway by the primary half earlier than a sparse crowd on the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium and added two extra targets within the second half in a exceptional efficiency.

The end result leaves Equatorial Guinea, who held Nigeria 1-1 of their opening sport, with 4 factors in Group A, which additionally accommodates hosts Ivory Coast.

With the 4 finest third-placed groups advancing to the final 16, the Nzalang Nacional (Nationwide Thunder) are ideally positioned to progress as they appear to emulate their run to the quarter-finals two years in the past.

Captain Nsue, 34, is the primary participant to attain thrice in a single sport on the Cup of Nations since Soufiane Alloudi did so within the first half for Morocco in a 5-1 win over Namibia on the 2008 version in Ghana.

Born in Mallorca, Nsue started his profession at Actual Mallorca and performed greater than 100 occasions for them in La Liga.

He was a part of the Spain workforce that received the Below-21 Euro in 2011 alongside the likes of David de Gea, Javi Martinez, Thiago Alcantara and Juan Mata.

However he later opted to signify the nation of his father and captained the Equatorial Guinea workforce that reached the AFCON semi-finals as hosts in 2015.

Having later performed within the English Championship with Middlesbrough and Birmingham Metropolis, Nsue now seems for Alicante-based Intercity within the Spanish third tier, generally enjoying at right-back.

Main the Equatorial Guinea assault right here, Nsue opened the scoring within the twenty first minute however Guinea-Bissau drew stage within the thirty seventh minute when Esteban Orozco turned the ball into his personal internet underneath strain from Franculino Dju.

Guinea-Bissau, chasing a primary ever AFCON win of their eleventh match on the event, have been awarded a penalty moments later as Dju went down underneath a Saul Coco problem.

However with Mama Balde able to take the kick, the Rwandan referee got here throughout to evaluate the pictures and finally overturned his resolution.

Josete Miranda restored Equatorial Guinea’s lead two minutes after the restart, the help coming from an extended kick downfield by goalkeeper Jesus Owono.

Nsue then took centre stage, changing a cross from the left flank on 51 minutes after which rounding the goalkeeper to finish his hat-trick simply after the hour mark.

The aim was finally given after initially being dominated out for offside, with Ze Turbo pulling one other one again for Guinea-Bissau late on.