Equatorial Guinea Coach Was Genuinely in Disbelief After AFCON Top Scorer Missed Pen vs Guinea

• Equatorial Guinea exited the AFCON in the most cruel of ways
• They conceded a late goal against Guinea with the last kick of the game
• Juan Micha’s side had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot

Equatorial Guinea just got dealt a brutal reality check by Guinea.

Fresh from an emphatic 4-0 victory over AFCON hosts Ivory Coast, spirits were high in the Equatorial Guinea camp heading into the last 16 clash.

Everything seemed to be going according to plan for Juan Micha’s team at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium in Abidjan, as they pushed for the opening goal in the second half.

However, things quickly changed when Federico Bikoro was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Guinea’s Mohamed Bayo.

Despite being a man down, Equatorial Guinea were handed the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot, with the competition’s top scorer Emilio Nsue stepping up.

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Many were confident in the 34-year-old’s abilities, as he was a combination of confidence and goal-scoring prowess at this year’s tournament.

But Nsue somehow missed the target from 12 yards as his effort painfully hit the post, to the relief of Guinea fans.

Arguably, no one felt the pain of the missed penalty more than Equatorial Guinea’s coach Juan Micha, whose reaction said it all.

As soon as the Nsue hit the post, Micha struck a dumbfounded look for a few seconds, as if processing how his side missed a golden opportunity to take the lead with 10 men.

Micha proceeded to encourage his players, but it was evident he was extremely dissaponted.

Guinea steal late win

Nsue’s penalty miss ultimately proved costly as Guinea launched an attack in the dying stages of the game, with Bayo having the last laugh as he headed home the winner.

Bayo’s goal produced contrasting reactions from the two sets of players as Equatorial Guinea stars sunk to the ground in despair as their opponents broke into celebration.

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Coach Kaba Diawara, left the pitch in tears as his side secured their first win in an AFCON knockout game since 1976.

Guinea will now come up against the winner of the Egypt vs DR Congo last 16 tie.

Nsue apologises

After Equatorial Guinea’s shock exit, Sports Brief reported that Nsue issued an apology to his nation for the missed penalty.

In his interaction with media after the game, the 34-year old, who plays for Spanish lower-tier side CF Intercity said, ““We did our best and I apologize personally for my penalty miss.”

Nsue, like the rest of the Equato-Guineans, was visibly distraught after the loss.