2023 AFCON: Hosts Ivory Coast handed 4-0 thrashing by Equatorial Guinea in final group game

Ivory Coast were handed their biggest defeat at home, after being thrashed 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in their final Group A match at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Abidjan, and now stare at the possibility of early elimination from their own party.

Veteran striker Emilio Nsue scored a brace for the Equatoguineans with Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla adding one each to hand Nzalang Nacional a massive victory to get them finishing top of the Group.

Nigeria took the second automatic qualification slot after a 1-0 win over Guinea Bissau to also move to seven points, but lower due to goal difference.

Ivory Coast are on three points, and their only hope now lies in whether they can rank as one of the top four third-placed teams after all group stage matches are complete.

They are currently second in the ranking, but the other five groups are yet to play and they will only be left crossing fingers that results go their way.

Everything didn’t work for Les Elephants against Equatorial Guinea, who were more efficient infront of goal and rewarded with four goals.

Ivory Coast had two goals disallowed by VAR for offside, while their finishing was also blunt on a night to forget in Abidjan.

credit:capitalinfo.co.ke