AFCON 2023: Hosts Ivory Coast flirting with exit, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea through

Emilio Nsue scored twice as Equatorial Guinea beat Ivory Coast (Credit: IMAGO)

AFCON 2023: Hosts Ivory Coast flirting with exit, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea through

Allan Damba • 20:44 - 22.01.2024

Equatorial Guinea are now clear and through to the Round of 16 after topping Group A with seven points.

Hosts Ivory Coast are on the verge of exiting the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea at the Alessane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan on Monday.

An Emilio Nsue brace plus and a goal apiece for Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla gave the Guineans three priceless points in one of the most stunning results in AFCON history.

Ivory Coast beaten by Equatorial Guinea|X

Equatorial Guinea are now clear and through to the Round of 16 after topping Group A with seven points.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast are third with just three points and now hanging on a thread.

Their slightest of chances of making it to the knockouts hinge around being one of the four best ranked third-placed sides.

On the other hand, Nigeria managed to secure progress as the second-placed team in Group A, having accumulated seven points in three games.

An own-goal by Opa Sangante at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium ensured the Super Eagles beat Guinea-Bissau 1-0 and sailed through as the group runners-up.

Despite sealing a knockout spot, the Nigerians have been far from vintage, scoring just two goals of their own in the tournament so far.

Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau has exited, having failed to collect a single point in three games.