With most of Africa's beloved stars on the continent for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, it will be hard for the lesser known to truly stand out. One individual, however, rose as a giant among them with his recent performance in the tournament.
Emilio Nsue, who is considered by some in the nation to be a living football legend, scored a hat-trick in his side's 4-2 victory over Group A rivals Guinea-Bissau at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations - the first hat-trick the tournament has seen since Morocco's Soufiane Alloudi netted three against Namibia in 2008. In doing so, Nsue also became the oldest-ever player to do so at the tournament.
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The star, who plies his trade in Spain — his place of birth — for third tier side CF Intercity, gave his national side the advantage when he pounced on a defensive error after showing tenacity that gave the defender no room to breathe. When he was one-on-one with the keeper, he slotted the ball coolly into the back of the net!
Guinea-Bissau then hit back with a equaliser in the 37th minute, and the score was level as both teams walked down the tunnel for the break.
Immediately after half-time, though, Equatorial Guinea regained the lead in the 46th minute courtesy of a clinical strike by Josete Miranda.
With the score at 2-1, it was time for the curtains to reopen on Nsue's show. He gave his side a two-goal lead in the 51st minute, proving once more a nuisance to the opposition defence. He made a well-timed run into the box as the ball was on the opposite flank. The cross then came in and floated past an outstretched Ouparine Djoco who tried but failed to get a hand on the cross which had been pounced on by the 34-year-old.
Around 10 minutes later, Nsue completed the feat and secured the hat-trick in the 61st minute, making another well-timed run behind the opposition's defence, dribbling around the goalkeeper, and then caressing the ball over the line with his left foot. His joy was momentarily cut short as the linesman raised the flag, suggesting the attacker was offside. After a VAR check, the decision was overruled and the goal stood.
The result also put his side in pole position as they race to qualify for the next round of the competition with just one game remaining. That match, however, is arguably the National Thunder's toughest one yet as their opponents Ivory Coast will be eager to make up for their loss against Nigeria.
"It will be a very difficult match for both teams but more especially for Cote d'Ivoire because they are under pressure to win," said Equatorial Guinea coach Juan Micha after his team's victory and his star forward's scintillating display per CAF.
"We will approach the match in a calm manner. We will not wait. We know that they will come at us and open up which will allow us to surprise them at their own stadium. We know that they are under pressure and not us."
The national team's supporters, meanwhile, will be hoping for some more heroics from Nsue that would mark an unforgettable AFCON campaign.
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