Equatorial Guinea Football Federation announced the suspension of captain Emilio Nsue and midfielder Iban Salvador due to disciplinary issues.
Nsue won the 2023 AFCON’s Golden Boot with five goals in four appearances for Equatorial Guinea.
The 34-year-old scored a hat-trick in Equatorial Guinea’s 4-2 victory over Guinea-Bissau and two more goals in the 4-0 win over Ivory Coast.
Equatorial Guinea’s AFCON journey ended with a 1-0 loss to Guinea in the round of 16, with Nsue missing a crucial penalty.
On Tuesday, the Equatoguinean Football Federation issued a statement announcing Nsue’s suspension due to “significant indiscipline,” keeping him out of international duty until more evidence surfaces.
Emilio Nsue is the all-time top goalscorer for Equatorial Guinea and is just seven appearances away from become the country’s all-time appearance record holder.
Meanwhile, Iban Salvador, who plays for Polish club Miedź Legnica, was also handed a suspension due to an ‘unpleasant’ incident in Abidjan, delaying the squad’s return and causing reputational damage to the team and the nation.
Equatorial Guinea, looking to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, faces uncertainties about the impact of Nsue’s suspension on their upcoming fixtures scheduled for June.
