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Hosts Cote D’Ivoire faces the specter of an AFCON exit after a resounding 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea, marking their heaviest home defeat. Emilio Nsue’s double, following his hat-trick against Guinea-Bissau, propelled Equatorial Guinea to the top of Group A, edging past Nigeria on goal difference.
Jean-Louis Gasset’s squad, two-time champions, find themselves on the brink of a potential elimination, needing a sequence of favorable results to progress to the Round of 16. This unexpected setback comes as Ivory Coast experiences their heaviest-ever home defeat, leaving thousands of disheartened supporters exiting the stadium.
Despite a bright start, Ivory Coast struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Oumar Diakite’s wild effort representing their best opportunity in the opening 25 minutes. In a pivotal moment, Nicolas Pepe seemed to be fouled in the box, but the winger opted to stay on his feet, and a penalty was not awarded, adding to the host’s frustrations.
The Ivorian team now faces an anxious wait to ascertain their fate, with hopes resting on potential results that could see them advance as one of the four best third-placed teams. As Equatorial Guinea’s dominance unfolded with three goals in 15 minutes, Cote D’Ivoire’s AFCON journey hangs in the balance, showcasing the unpredictability and drama that defines football’s premier continental competition.
