AFCON 2023: Emilio Nsue’s Hat trick and Other Records From the Group Stage

• Interesting records have been set in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
• Emilio Nsue is the oldest player to score a hat trick in the tournament
• 78 goals have been scored in the group stage of the competition

After 36 exciting matches, the group stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has come to an end with some breathtaking records set by players and teams in the competition.

32 teams, including hosts Ivory Coast and defending champions Senegal, participated in the group stage of the tournament, but just 16 teams are left, with the other half sent back home.

According to Khel Now, top sides such as Ghana, Tunisia, and Algeria failed to reach AFCON 2023's last 16, while countries like Mauritania and Namibia sealed qualification to the Round of 16.

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The Black Stars and Desert Foxes have failed to progress to the AFCON knockout stages for the second consecutive competition, while the Carthage Eagles failed to win a single game in Ivory Coast.

Here, Sports Brief takes a look at some of the records and key statistics of the AFCON 2023 group stages.

Key stats and records from AFCON

1. Oldest hat trick scorer at AFCON

Emilio Nsue of Equatorial Guinea became the oldest player to score a hat trick at the Africa Cup of Nations since 2019 after netting three goals against Guinea-Bissau in the group stages.

2. First AFCON hat trick in 15 years

Nsue also surged to the top of the scorers' chart with his first AFCON hat trick since 2008, becoming the first player in the competition to score three goals since Morocco's Soafiane Alloudi.

3. Highest conversion rate at AFCON

Before the final round of group matches, 64 goals were scored from 521 shots, making it the tournament with the lowest conversion rate till date.

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4. Senegal’s Mane sets AFCON history

Meanwhile, Sadio Mane became the first Senegalese to score in four different AFCON tournaments after netting in the 3-1 victory over Cameroon in their second group game.

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Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ghana has been eliminated in the group stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, as the last 16 teams have been determined.

So far, there have been a few upsets as Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, and Mauritania have made headlines for historic results and sealing a spot in the knockout round.