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Equatorial Guinea national football team

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Equatorial Guinea
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Nzalang Nacional
AssociationFederación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationUNIFFAC
(Central Africa)
Head coachAndoni Goikoetxea
CaptainEmilio Nsue
Home stadiumNuevo Estadio de Malabo
FIFA codeEQG
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current99 Decrease 32
Highest59 (April 2013)
Lowest195 (December 1998)
First international
 China 6–2 Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea
(China; 23 May 1975)
Biggest win
 Equatorial Guinea 3–0 CAR 
(Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; 7 September 2011)
Biggest defeat
 Congo 6–0 Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea
(Congo; 13 December 1990)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances1 (first in 2012)
Best resultQuarter-finals

The Equatorial Guinea national football team, nicknamed Nzalang Nacional, is the national team of Equatorial Guinea and is controlled by the Federación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol. It is a member of Confederation of African Football (CAF). Though Equatorial Guinea has traditionally been one of the lowest ranked teams in Africa, the recent influx of Spanish-born players having Equatoguinean heritage has strengthened the national team and resulted in some solid performances. They qualified as co-hosts for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The hosting of the tournament lead to the construction of two new football stadia in the country: Estadio de Bata in Bata on the mainland, and Estadio de Malabo in Malabo.

History

Equatorial Guinea played its first match on 23 May 1975 against China in a friendly and lost 6−2. They did not play another game until entering the 1985 UDEAC Cup in December 1985. They were drawn in a group against the hosts Congo and Central African Republic. They lost 5−0 to the Congo on 9 December and then earnt their first draw by drawing 1−1 against the Central African Republic on 14 December. On 16 December they played a play-off for fifth place against Chad, and lost 3−2 on penalties after a 1−1 draw.[1]

Equatorial Guinea would come in fourth in the 1987 UDEAC Cup, losing on penalties in the third place match to Gabon, even though they only scored one goal throughout the tournament in a 1−1 tie against Chad. They also tied 0−0 against Cameroon. On their next try, they got sixth place after losing on penalties against Central African Replublic. The next time Equatorial Guinea played Central African Republic, in 1999, they won, 4–2. It was Equatorial Guinea's first win.[1]

In the late 2000s, their Federación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol along with the Fédération Gabonaise de Football announced a bid to host the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, against bids from other African nations including Angola, Libya and Nigeria. Equatorial Guinea and Gabon won the right to host the games,[2] and two new stadiums were built in Equatorial Guinea: Estadio de Bata in Bata and Nuevo Estadio de Malabo in Malabo.[3]

The first game in the 2012 African Cup of Nations was Equatorial Guinea's first in a major international tournament, and resulted in a historic 1–0 win over Libya 21 January 2012 in the opening game of the tournament. An 87th minute strike from former Real Madrid winger Javier Balboa earned the victory.[4] In the next game they secured qualification to the quarter-finals by beating Senegal 2–1,[5] and finished second in their group after losing 0–1 to Zambia.[6] They progressed to the quarter finals were they were eliminated by the tournament's runners-up Ivory Coast after losing to The Elephants 3-0 thanks to goals from Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré.[7] Various national side players were praised due to there performances in the tournament among these players were Javier Balboa, Randy, Ben Konaté and Rui, the latter was part of the Team of the tournament.[8]

Naturalised players controversy

Further information: List of naturalised Equatoguinean international football players

In recent years, Equatorial Guinea has courted controversy by recruiting foreign players and giving them citizenship despite having little or no ties to the country. In 2009, South African journalist and FIFA archivist Mark Gleeson wrote that it was undermining the integrity of African football.[9]

In late 2005 and at the request of Ruslán Obiang Nsue, a son of President Teodoro Obiang, Brazilian coach Antônio Dumas recruited several Brazilian players to represent the Equatorial Guinea but CAF and FIFA turned a blind eye, despite complaints from other nations.

In 2012, having lost the first leg of a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification round 4-0 to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea recruited nine Brazilian players to help overturn the deficit for the second leg. Democratic Republic of the Congo head coach Claude Le Roy complained that that the Equatorial Guinea were acting like the United Nations of football.

Before the arrival of new coach Andoni Goikoetxea to Malabo, in March 2013, the Equatoguinean board made the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Cape Verde and called nine Brazilian players again.[10] In May 2013, they joined Colombian-born Ecuadorian-based Jimmy Bermúdez, to who was going to pay him € 3,000 for each match he plays.[11]

Home stadium

Further information: Nuevo Estadio de Malabo
Nuevo Estadio de Malabo

Equatorial Guinea's home stadium is Nuevo Estadio de Malabo in Malabo. It can hold up to 15,250 people. Equatorial Guinea played there when they hosted the 2012 African Cup of Nations During there participation in the tournament, they played in this stadium against eventual winners Zambia and runners-up the Ivory Coast. During the national side's participation in the 2012 African Cup of Nations, they also played in the newly constructed Estadio de Bata, in which they played and won both there games in the stadium against Libya and Senegal.[3]

Kit and colors

Equatorial Guinea wears a red and white uniform. The kit manufacturer is Hummel. When they play in Equatorial Guinea, they wear a solid red jersey and matching shorts with a white stripe around both sleeves and two white stripes from the hip down. The number, FEGIFUT logo, and Hummel logo are located on the chest. The socks are red with white at the top.[12] When Equatorial Guinea is away, they wear the opposite; all white shirt with red stripes.

Achievements

2006

World Cup record

Africa Cup of Nations record

Schedule

Recent Results

Sept. 9, 2012 2013 ACoN Qual DR Congo  4 – 0  Equatorial Guinea Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mbokani 56', 80'
Kanda 61'
Ronan 73' (o.g.)		 Stadium: Stade des Martyrs
October 14, 2012 2013 ACoN Qual Equatorial Guinea  2 – 1  DR Congo Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Judson 23'
Ricardinho 35'		 Mbokani 43' Stadium: Estadio de Malabo
March 24, 2013 2014 WC Qual Equatorial Guinea  0–3
Awarded[note 1]		  Cape Verde Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
17:00 UTC+1 Nsue 4', 17' (pen.), 78'
Rincón 86'		 Djaniny 6', 85'
Platini 19'		 Stadium: Estadio de Malabo
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Mahamadou Keita (Mali)
June 5, 2013 Friendly Equatorial Guinea  0 – 1  Togo Bata, Equatorial Guinea
Salifou 72' (pen.) Stadium: Estadio de Bata
June 8, 2013 2014 WC Qual Cape Verde  3–0
Awarded[note 2]		  Equatorial Guinea Praia, Cape Verde
Babanco 17'
Djaniny 53'		 Jônatas Obina 54' Stadium: Estádio da Várzea
June 16, 2013 2014 WC Qual Equatorial Guinea  1 – 1  Tunisia Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Juvenal 36' (pen.) Darragi 64' (pen.) Stadium: Estadio de Malabo
September 4, 2013 Friendly Equatorial Guinea  1 – 1  Libya Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Fidjeu 7' Zayed 56' Stadium: Estadio de Malabo
September 7, 2013 2014 WC Qual Sierra Leone  3 – 2  Equatorial Guinea Freetown, Sierra Leone
16:30 UTC±0 Bangura 21'
Kargbo 40' (pen.)
Kamara 70'		 Randy 87'
Bermúdez 89'		 Stadium: National Stadium
Referee: Mohamed Hussein El-Fadil (Sudan)

Players

Current squad

The following are some of the players called for a friendly against Libya and a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Sierra Leone.[14]

Match Date: 4 September 2013
Opposition:  Libya
Caps and goals are correct as of 16 June 2013. Note: Caps and goals may be incomplete for certain players, therefore being inaccurate. It not includes the two matches invalidated by FIFA.[13]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Danilo (1982-03-05) 5 March 1982 (age 42) 28 0 Brazil Alecrim
13 1GK Felipe Ovono (1993-07-26) 26 July 1993 (age 31) 7 0 Equatorial Guinea Sony de Elá Nguema
21 1GK Carlos Bejarano (1985-01-29) 29 January 1985 (age 39) 0 0 Colombia Independiente Medellín
2 2DF Dani Evuy (1985-03-11) 11 March 1985 (age 39) 7 0 Estonia Tallinna Kalev
3 2DF Kily (1984-02-05) 5 February 1984 (age 40) 17 1 Spain Noja
4 2DF Jimmy Bermúdez (1987-12-16) 16 December 1987 (age 36) 2 0 Ecuador Liga de Loja
5 2DF Fousseny Kamissoko (1983-04-05) 5 April 1983 (age 41) 7 0 Algeria ASO Chlef
14 2DF Yoiver González (1989-11-22) 22 November 1989 (age 34) 0 0 Colombia Millonarios
16 2DF Sipo (1988-04-21) 21 April 1988 (age 36) 13 0 Romania Pandurii
20 2DF Diosdado Mbele 2 0 Belgium training with a Belgian club
23 2DF Lato Ekanza (1990-12-28) 28 December 1990 (age 33) 1 0 Equatorial Guinea Leones Vegetarianos
6 3MF Juvenal (1979-04-03) 3 April 1979 (age 45) 24 6 Spain Vilanova
7 3MF Iván Zarandona (captain) (1980-08-30) 30 August 1980 (age 43) 18 0 Spain Noja
9 3MF Cristian (1990-06-28) 28 June 1990 (age 34) 0 0 Equatorial Guinea Sony de Elá Nguema
17 3MF Valeriano (1995-06-18) 18 June 1995 (age 29) 0 0 Italy Internazionale (Primavera)
18 3MF Viera Ellong (1987-06-14) 14 June 1987 (age 37) 5 0 Gabon Cercle Mbéri Sportif
22 3MF Dio (1986-09-26) 26 September 1986 (age 37) 2 0 free agent
8 4FW Randy (1987-06-02) 2 June 1987 (age 37) 15 4 Greece Fokikos
10 4FW Iván Bolado (1989-07-03) 3 July 1989 (age 35) 5 0 Spain Racing Santander
11 4FW César Rivas (1979-06-28) 28 June 1979 (age 45) 1 0 Peru Alfonso Ugarte
12 4FW Thierry Fidjeu (1982-10-13) 13 October 1982 (age 41) 11 1 Austria SV Horn
19 4FW Jônatas Obina (1985-12-18) 18 December 1985 (age 38) 2 0 Brazil Mixto
15 Federico 0 0 Equatorial Guinea school football

Recent callups

The following Equatoguinean players have been called up for the team in the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Carlos Mosibe (1991-03-12) 12 March 1991 (age 33) 0 0 Equatorial Guinea Atlético Malabo v.  DR Congo, 9 September 2012
DF Carlos Akapo (1993-03-12) 12 March 1993 (age 31) 2 0 Spain Numancia v.  Tunisia, 16 June 2013
DF Eloy (1985-03-16) 16 March 1985 (age 39) 0 0 Spain Torrejón v.  Tunisia, 16 June 2013
MF Emilio Nsue (1989-09-30) 30 September 1989 (age 34) 0 0 Spain Mallorca v.  Cape Verde, 8 June 2013
MF Baruc (1984-11-02) 2 November 1984 (age 39) 1 0 Spain Cornellà v.  Togo, 5 June 2013
MF Ehoma (1991-01-18) 18 January 1991 (age 33) 0 0 Spain Las Palmas C v.  DR Congo, 9 September 2012
FW Rodolfo Bodipo (1977-10-25) 25 October 1977 (age 46) 12 6 (free agent) v.  Tunisia, 16 June 2013
FW Raúl Fabiani (1984-02-23) 23 February 1984 (age 40) 3 0 India Pune v.  DR Congo, 9 September 2012
FW Javier Balboa (1985-05-13) 13 May 1985 (age 39) 14 1 Portugal Estoril Praia v.  DR Congo, 9 September 2012

Notes

  1. ^ FIFA awarded Cape Verde a 3–0 win as a result of Equatorial Guinea fielding the ineligible player Emilio Nsue. The match originally ended 4–3 to Equatorial Guinea.[13]
  2. ^ FIFA awarded Cape Verde a 3–0 win as a result of Equatorial Guinea fielding the ineligible player Emilio Nsue. The match originally ended 2–1 to Cape Verde.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Equatorial Guinea - List of International Mathces". 5 June 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Angola to host 2010 Nations Cup". BBC Sport. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2006.
  3. ^ a b "Nuevo Estadio de Malabo". Stadium Guide. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  4. ^ "Balboa dá vitória à Guiné Equatorial". A Bola. abola.pt. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ BBC Sport – Africa Cup of Nations: Equatorial Guinea in quarters as Senegal crash out 25 January 2012. Accessed 1 February 2011
  6. ^ BBC Sport – Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia book quarter-final slot 29 January 2012. Accessed 1 February 2011
  7. ^ Ivory Coast 3 - 0 Equatorial Guinea 4 February 2012. Accessed 14 February 2011
  8. ^ Orange CAN 2012 Best XI 12 February 2012. Accessed 14 February 2011
  9. ^ "African football's integrity is undermined, by Mark Gleeson". WorldSoccer.com. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Volante Neto é convocado pela Seleção de Guiné Equatorial" (in Portuguese). Barretos Esporte Clube. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  11. ^ [1] Template:Es icon
  12. ^ "Equatorial Guinea ANC Puma Home Shirt 2012". Football Shirts. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  13. ^ a b c "Equatorial Guinea sanctioned for fielding ineligible player". fifa.com. 19 July 2013.
  14. ^ [2] Template:Es icon
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