FIFA Bans AFCON 2023 Top Scorer Nsue, Strips Equatorial Guinea of 6 Points

• Emilio Nsue has been banned for six months by the world governing body FIFA
• FIFA has also stripped Equatorial Guinea of their World Cup qualifier points
• Nsue finished as the top scorer at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with 5 goals

FIFA’s disciplinary committee has handed a six-month ban to Emilio Nsue and has also stripped six points off Equatorial Guinea in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The world football governing body imposed the harsh sanction on the African nation after it confirmed they fielded an ineligible player (Nsue) in their first two qualifying matches.

According to Punch NG, Equatorial Guinea were also fined $164,000 but FIFA did not provide any further details on the ruling on Nsue who won the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot in February.

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The 34-year-old forward scored the winning goal in both of Equatorial Guinea’s Group H games in question, against Namibia and Liberia, last November to take them to the top of the group.

The impact of FIFA’s latest sanction means Nzalang Nacional's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup are now in shambles after they dropped to fifth on the six-team log with zero points from their first two games after their points were stripped off.

Equatorial Guinea yet to respond

Meanwhile, an official of Equatorial Guinea’s Football Federation (Feguifut) claims the body is still investigating the case against Nsue and has not received any official notification from FIFA, BBC reports.

The 34-year-old forward has previously represented Spain at youth level, including featuring at the Under-21 European Championship in 2011 before switching his nationality to Equatorial Guinea.

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Nsue has since become Equatorial Guinea's all-time leading goal scorer, having appeared in qualifying for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, as well as three Nations Cup finals.

Nsue breaks silence after suspension

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Nsue has broken his silence and has decided to spill it all open after his sudden expulsion from the Equatorial Guinea national team.

The 2023 AFCON Golden Boot winner in an Instagram Live session disclosed that FEGUIFUT were corrupt and the federation was using the national team to embezzle funds.

According to Nsue, the Equatorial Guinea players did not even have their jerseys ready for the first game against Nigeria at AFCON 2023.