In a highly anticipated clash, Equatorial Guinea is set to face Guinea in the Round of 16 in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, promising an intense Guinean derby at Ebimpe’s Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium on Sunday, 28 January at 17h00 GMT.
Equatorial Guinea, despite being enormous outsiders at the start, emerged as the top team in a challenging Group A, surpassing expectations by finishing above Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Guinea-Bissau.
Their standout performance was a 4-0 thrashing of hosts Cote d’Ivoire, showcasing their attacking prowess with a total of 9 goals in the group stage.
Captain Emilio Nsue Lopez, the tournament’s leading scorer with 5 goals, leads a team that captain Emilio Nsue described as “one of the strongest in Africa” despite lacking superstars.
Guinea, on the other hand, qualified as one of the best third-placed finishers from Group C, finishing behind Senegal and Cameroon. Despite struggles in the group stage, they earned their spot in the knockout rounds.
Coach Kaba Diawara emphasized the importance of tactics as they approach the Round of 16, stating, “In the round of 16, there are no favorites. We are much better than in 2021 and know each other better. All we want is to win tomorrow.”
This encounter marks the first TotalEnergies CAF AFCON meeting between the two homonymous nations, setting the stage for an intriguing battle.
Equatorial Guinea coach Juan Micha remains humble, acknowledging the difficulty of the match but emphasizing their commitment to taking each game step by step.
Players to watch include Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue Lopez, the tournament’s top scorer, and Guinea’s Aguibou Camara, a 22-year-old midfielder who has been instrumental in their victories.
As the teams prepare for this historic clash, the pre-match comments from players and coaches reflect the significance of the moment.
Equatorial Guinea player Saul Coco acknowledged the challenge posed by Guinea, stating, “Guinea are a complicated opponent, and it will be a very difficult match. We will make more effort because so far, we have demonstrated that when we have the ball, we know how to use it well.”
With both teams aiming to progress further in the tournament, the Guinea Derby promises to be a battle of determination and skill, as these homonymous nations clash for the first time in AFCON history.
