FIFA bans AFCON 2023 highest goal scorer Emilio Nsue

The body governing football in the world, FIFA have confirmed that the captain of Equatorial Guinea, Emilio Nue was never eligible to play for the African nation throughout the 11 years he represented them.

FIFA confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, that Emilio Nsue has been banned and will not be able to play for Equatorial Guinea going forward after it was confirmed that he is supposed to be of Spanish nationality.

What happened between FIFA and Nsue?

In December 2013, FIFA had ruled that Nsue was not eligible to play for Equatorial Guinea following several appearances for Spain’s youth teams but he continued to represent them regardless and emerged as the highest goal scorer at the AFCON 2023.

However, FIFA opened a new investigation into Nsue’s eligibility in March 2024, with the 34-year-old given a six-day deadline to respond, but they confirmed that no response was received from the player. The judgement is based on Nsue playing competitive matches for Spain’s youth teams before featuring for Equatorial Guinea’s senior side.

It was stated that FIFA’s adjudication stated that the player “apparently only acquired the Equatoguinean nationality after he played in his first international match in an official competition”.

What does this hold for Equatorial Guinea?

FIFA has confirmed that Equatorial Guinea will be stripped of their World Cup 2026 qualification victories against Namibia and Liberia which they both won 1-0 thanks to Nsue goals, with their opponents awarded a three-goal victory.

FIFA has ruled that Nsue has been banned from all international football for six months, while the Equatoguinean federation (Feguifut) was fined 150,000 Swiss francs ($164,000, £129,000). The real test for Equatorial Guinea is at the World Cup 2026 qualification match away match at Tunisia on June 5, 2024 before they host Malawi five days later.

Nsue played 26 competitive matches for Spain from Under-16 level through to Under-21 and featured in the Under-21 European Championship in 2011.

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