Guinea-Equatorial striker Emilio Nsue and his teammate Edu Salvador have been kicked out of the national team due to “multiple instances of serious misconduct” for the former and involvement “in an unpleasant incident in Abidjan” for the latter.

In a statement released this Tuesday, February 13, 2024, two days after the final of the Africa Cup of Nations won by Ivory Coast, the Equatoguinean Football Federation (FEGUIFUT) has suspended Emilio Nsue Lopez and Ivan Salvador from the national team until further notice.

While the details of these exclusions remain unclear, the statement explains that Nsue would be responsible for “several instances of serious misconduct, before and after his national team’s participation in the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.”

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He had recently won the honorary title of top scorer in the competition with his five goals scored during the tournament, including two against Ivory Coast in the group stage (0-4).

On the other hand, Salvador is said to have been involved, according to Feguifut’s statement, “in an unpleasant incident in the city of Abidjan that led to the intervention of the police of that country.” An incident that “caused a significant delay in the expedition’s return to Equatorial Guinea.”

34-year-old Emilio Nsue gifts AFCON its first hat-trick in 16 years

Emilio Nsue has scored the first hat-trick at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 16 years, leading his nation, Equatorial Guinea, to an emphatic 4-2 victory over Guinea Bissau.

Nsue, who plays for the Primera Federación club CF Intercity, found the net in the 21st, 51st, and 61st minutes, completing a hat-trick in just 40 minutes at the Alassane Quatara Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

The 34-year-old who has spent the better part of his career playing as a right-back (for his club), is the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the tournament’s history.