Third in its group, the host country is in great danger after its defeat against Equatorial Guinea (4-0) on Monday, and will have to wait for the other group results to know if it is qualified.
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A hell of a thunderclap in sight. Ivory Coast is on the verge of elimination from its African Cup of Nations after its heavy defeat against Equatorial Guinea (4-0), Monday January 22. Already beaten by Nigeria during their second meeting (0-1), the Elephants failed to take one of the first two places in Group A at the end of the group stage. With only three points, they would now need a miracle to finish among the best thirds and see the round of 16.
Amazement gripped the Alassane-Ouattara stadium in Ebimpé just before the break, when Emilio Nsue scored the first of his two goals of the day against the run of play. Frustrated twice by equalizers canceled for offside, the Ivorian public was definitively extinguished when Pablo Ganet doubled the lead with a perfect free kick, before Jean-Louis Gasset’s men completely sank under the Equatoguinean waves.
With this surprise result, Nzalang Nacional concludes the first round at the top of its group ahead of Nigeria, also qualified thanks to its victory against Guinea-Bissau at the same time (1-0). If Equatorial Guinea will have to wait to know the identity of its opponent in the round of 16, Victor Osimhen’s partners already have an idea. It will definitely be a big one: Senegal, Guinea or Cameroon.
