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2023 AFCON: Equatorial Guinea’s 34 Year-old skipper joins list of AFCON hat-trick Greats

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson
Veteran skipper and forward Emiloo Nsue Lopez (34) of Equatorial Guinea made history on Thursday afternoon at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara netted the first AFCON hat-trick in sixteen years in his country’s 4-2 win over Guinea Bissau. The 34-year-old former Middlesbrough and Birmingham defender has now become the 18th player to score three goals in the continent’s flagship men’s tournament joining the likes of Ad-Diba who netted the first AFCON hat-trick in their 4-0 win over Ethiopia in the 1957 finals, United Arab Emirates’ Hassan El-Shazly in their 6-3 win over Nigeria in 1963, Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya in 1996 in their 4-0 win over Sierra Leone, Samuel Etoo in their 3-1 over Angola in 1996, Moroccan striker Soufinae Alloudi in 2008 against Namibia and the others. Although his third goal was initially ruled out, grace for a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) cross examination that saw referee Samuel Uwikunda made a u-turn and awarded the goal which sparked wild team celebration led by Lopez himself as his side confidently grabbed a sound 4-2 win which has become the biggest win in the on-going 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire so far. Lopez, 34 opened the floodgate in the 6 goals trailer in the 21st minute but Guinea Bissau who lost their tournament opener 2-0 to host Cote’ d’Ivoire equalized 16 minutes later through an own goal that emerged from Mauro Rodrigues low cross in to the opponent’s danger area sending both teams levelled 1-1 to the dressing room for the first half brake. After the recess, the experienced skipper Lopez completed his brace just six minutes on in the last quarter hour mark and ten minutes later slotted home his third on the day to make it 4-1 for is side after running past a complacent Guinea Bissau defence reflecting a perfect display of team coordination in the pitch by Equatorial Guinea to secure their first AFCON victory sharing the spoils with Nigeria 1-1 in their opening group game on Sunday. After netting their fourth goal on the day, Equatorial Guinea the team that ended Leone Stars 2021 AFCON journey after beating them 1-0 in Limbe, started playing for fun letting Guinea Bissau who earned their 2023 AFCON ticket over Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe made use of late minute chance to reduce the score to 4-2 through second half substitute Ze Turbo’s goal in the third minute of extra time. Despite sharing spoils with Nigeria in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opener on Sunday, Equatorial Guinea bravery to down Guinea Bissau 4-2 on Thursday afternoon has enabled them to overtake host Cote d’Ivoire with three points as Group-A current leaders with five goals and four points separated by three goals with the current second place Nigeria with two goals who also secured their first win after humbling the tournament host 1-0 in their second group game. The 34th Edition of Africa’s biggest football gathering will continue today with three matches lined up for Cape Verde, defending champions Senegal and Sierra Leone’s Mano River Union neighbors Guinea who battles Mozambique, Cameroon and Zambia in their second group matches in the race for the 2023 AFCON title.

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