Holidays in Equatorial Guinea to reach the 1/8 finals of the African Cup.
The Equatorial Guinea team defeated Cote d’Ivoire with a score of 4:0 and advanced to the next round of the African Cup.
The president Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiangdeclared a holiday today after the national football team reached the round of 16 of the World Cup last night. Africa Cup with a resounding score of 4-0 against Ivory Coasthost country of the tournament.
“In honor of the victory of Nzalanga (the popular name of the national team, which means “thunder” in the local Fang language) National, I declare January 23, 2024 #WORKFREEDAY!” he wrote late Monday on his X network account for Obiang, who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1979.
“Let no one work tomorrow (Tuesday) for the victory of National Nzalanga,” the president reiterated.
Footage shown on public television showed the president, wearing an Equatoguinean team jersey, promising the players and technical team a million-euro bonus for victory.
“They are national heroes,” the head of state added later in X.
The country’s vice president and Obiang’s son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, known as “Teodorin,” posted a video in which he twice excitedly reiterates that the national team is “the best team in Africa.”
“Today’s victory was a brilliant victory, a great victory and indeed we are all very proud and happy to see how you managed to beat the host nation 4-0,” said Teodorin, also wearing a Nzalanga jersey.
The Vice President concluded his message with “Bravo!” as he clapped his hands and held his right fist in the air.
Hundreds of Equatoguinean fans, as seen in images circulating on social media, celebrated the victory both on the streets of their capital Malabo and in Abidjan, the commercial capital Ivory Coastwhere the game took place.
On the other hand, some supporters of the Elephants (the nickname of the Ivorian team) caused incidents and destruction at the exit of the stadium.
The main hero of the match was striker Emilio Nsue, who plays for Intercity of the Spanish First RFEF, who scored a double and entered the list of players who scored five goals in the first three games of the championship. Africa Cup in the 21st century, after he scored a hat-trick in the second game against Guinea-Bissau.
Also notable is Pablo Gane, a player from the Spanish club Alcoyano, who scored the second goal from a free kick; and goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who plays for Alaves and was chosen man of the match by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Equatoguinean team advances to the next round of the competition after a near-perfect finish to the group stage and with a strong Spanish flair.