AFCON 2023
Match 39 – Equatorial Guinea v Guinea
Sunday 28 January | 19:00

This will seem like one of many extra low-key spherical of 16 clashes at AFCON, nonetheless, Equatorial Guinea have set the competitors alight after topping a gaggle containing Nigeria and Ivory Coast. Their reward for ending high of Group A is a round-of-16 tie in opposition to Group C’s third-placed aspect, Guinea. 

To win (90 minutes)
Equatorial Guinea 51/20 | Draw 33/20 | Guinea 12/10

It has been a match to recollect for the Central Africans of Equatorial Guinea. That is solely their fourth look on the continental showpiece and have shocked Africa and the world with their performances thus far. They’ve been a breath of contemporary air at this match and have certified for the spherical of 16 after ending as winners of Group A.

They started their journey with a tricky first fixture in opposition to Nigeria. It was a match of defence versus assault. The Nigerians dominated which was anticipated, but it surely was Ivan Salvador who obtained the primary purpose of the match for Equatorial Guinea within the thirty sixth minute. A lapse of focus and the Nigerians equalised two minutes later. The match was deadlocked and ended 1-1 which suited The Elephants extra.

They went on to play Guinea-Bissau on matchday 2 the place they dominated the sport and confirmed true class. Emilio Nsue was the star of the present on the day and proved that age is only a quantity after the 34-year-old bagged a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory, turning into the oldest participant to web a treble within the competitors and the primary to take action in 15 years.

They took on the host nation Ivory Coast of their closing Group A fixture. This was a redemption match for Equatorial Guinea after they misplaced to Ivory Coast within the earlier AFCON match that came about in Cameroon. Emilio Nsue once more proved to be the primary act and bagged a brace, Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla obtained a purpose apiece to complete the Ivorians off in a shock 4-0 end result.

This run has been monumental for the Central Africans, however they’ll’t bask on this euphoria for too lengthy as they flip their consideration to going through a robust Guinea outfit. Coach Juan Micha will know the significance of this fixture and can demand an enormous efficiency from his crew on the day. This might be their finest alternative to beat their earlier file of ending fourth in 2015 and that begins right here with a victory in opposition to Guinea.

The highway to the spherical of 16 was powerful for Guinea. Three powerful fixtures to get via in Group C and managed it properly as they certified as among the best third-placed nations. 

The Nationwide Elephants obtained their AFCON match off to a flyer of their first Group C match in opposition to Cameroon. It took 10 minutes to interrupt the impasse and to the shock of the Cameroonians, Mohamed Bayo put Guinea forward to enter half-time 1-0 up. Camerron got here out second half a unique outfit and was rewarded with a purpose within the 51st minute by Frank Magri to stage the sport. The match completed 1-1, a optimistic end result for Guinea.

Matchday 2 noticed a dominant efficiency by Guinea as they took the sport to Gambia. A complete of (16) photographs, six heading in the right direction and 55% possession confirmed they’ve extra to supply particularly within the closing third. Aguibou Camara’s second-half strike hit the again of the web handy Guinea their first win at AFCON. The third and closing match in opposition to the reigning champions Senegal was all the time going to be the toughest and, in the long run, proved so after the Lions of Teranga beat them 2-0.

Within the spherical of 16, there aren’t any second possibilities. Head coach Kaba Diawara will want his finest gamers to be in sync with one another as they give the impression of being to place Equatorial Guinea to the sword. Former Liverpool midfielder and captain of Naby Keita might want to command the midfield and create scoring alternatives for Serhou Guirassy who’s the star striker at German outfit Stuttgart, with 17 targets in 14 appearances this season.

Verdict: Equatorial Guinea 51/20

That is one you ought to be backing on value alone. For Guinea to be priced up as favourites after Equatorial Guinea’s performances thus far is sort of frankly scandalous. Get on Equatorial Guinea to march into the quarter-finals right here!