FIFA has declared that Emilio Nsue, the top scorer at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, was never eligible to play for Equatorial Guinea throughout his 11-year international career.
In a detailed verdict released on Monday, the world football governing body annulled two wins Equatorial Guinea recorded in their 2026 World Cup qualifying matches in November, where Nsue had scored decisive goals in 1-0 victories against Namibia and Liberia.
FIFA revealed that Nsue, who previously represented Spain at youth and U-21 levels, should not have participated in any of these matches and subsequently imposed a six-month ban on him from national team games.
This ruling echoes a similar 2013 decision by FIFA, which had invalidated Equatorial Guinea’s qualification matches for the 2014 World Cup, citing Nsue’s ineligibility.
According to the report, Nsue acquired Equatoguinean nationality in March 2013, after he had already made his debut in an official competition for Spain.
At 34, Nsue’s international career now faces significant scrutiny, having played 26 competitive matches for various Spanish youth teams between 2005 and 2011.
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