MOMENT OF THE WEEK: The 2023 edition of the African Cup of Nations has proven to be one to remember not just for dramas and shockers, but for records and milestones as well. In addition to its collection of exquisite actions and moments, the 2023 AFCON added yet another monumental feat. The very first game of the second round of group stage games featured an AFCON hat-trick for the first time in 16 years.
Enilio Nsue netted the first AFCON hat-trick since 2008, as Equatorial Guinea thumped Guinea Bissau 4-2 in their second game of the competition. Thanks to his hat trick, Equatorial Guinea find themselves in a more advantageous position in sealing their place in the last 16.
Enilio Nsue Hat Trick in AFCON
To score his first goal, Nsue took advantage of a defensive error to roll the ball past Ouparin Djoco in the 21st minute. Guinea Bissau wasn’t going to let that slide, as they bounced back in the 37th minute when Dju’s pressure forced an own goal from Esteban Orozco. The first half ended goalless.
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The second half was a moment of exhilaration for both Equatorial Guinea and Emilio Nsue. Just after the break, Miranda netted the goal to give Equatorial Guinea the lead, a goal that was largely influenced by the goalkeeper’s long ball.
Thirty minutes after his first goal, Nsue decently glided the ball into the empty net, after a sloppy defensive moment from Guinea Bissau saw a cross from the left-hand side escape Bissau players to find him at the far right.
The 34-year-old sealed his hat-trick with a sublime finish, rounding the keeper and slotting the ball into the empty net. It was the first AFCON hat-trick since Morocco’s Soufiane Alloudi preceded this feat in the 2008 edition in Ghana.
Ze Turbo pulled one back deep in added time, but that could only reduce, and not eliminate the damage that had been done.
Savoring this rare moment, the forward assuredly claimed “Scoring three goals has given me a lot of confidence and I hope I can keep scoring and even be the top scorer in this competition”.
Following the win, Equatorial Guinea emerged as group leaders of group A, however, they face a huge test when they take on the hosts in their final group stage clash.
