Equatorial have seen their gains in CAF 2026 World Cup Qualifiers eroded following FIFA clampdown on 2023 AFCON top-scorer Emile Nsue.
In a statement issued by the world football’s governing body, Nsue has been slammed with a six-month ban and Equatorial Guinea Football Federation hit with CHF 150,000 for fielding the former Spain U21 player in Equatorial Guinea national team despite the latter being ineligible.
FIFA also chalked off the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers win by Equatorial Guinea over Namibia and Liberia due to the penalty on the team and Emile Nsue.
The football governing body claims Equatorial Guinea should not have fielded the player in the two matches as he was ineligible. This means, Nsue will not play for the Leopards going forward
The sanction marks a major setback for the former Spain youth player. Nsue, who was born in Spain, began his career in his place of birth Mallorca in 2006. Playing as a striker, Nsue played for all levels for Spain’s youth team for six years from 2005 to 2011. He scored at all the levels but could not break into Spain’s senior national team.
In 2013, he opted to represent Equatorial Guinea and has been playing for the Leopards since then. He has won 43 caps with the team, scoring 22 goals.
In the 2023 AFCON, the 34-year-old finished the tournament as top scorer with 5 goals, including a hat-trick. He also scored in the two recent 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for the team.
Based on reports, the prolific forward allegedly lied about his passport while he switched nationality to the Equatorial Guinea national team.
He allegedly used a fraudulent Equatoguinean passport in which it is stated that he was born in Malabo, instead of Palma de Mallorca.
Equatorial Guinea can appeal the ruling by FIFA to the FIFA Appeal Committee and they have been given 10 days to do so. Should they lose the appeal, it will be the end of the road for Nsue and his international career.
