The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations' top goalscorer has now officially quit international football after recently making serious claims of corruption against his country's FA.
Striker Emilio Nsue, who scored five goals at the AFCON in the Ivory Coast to win the tournament's Golden Boot, has quit the Equatorial Guinea national team following his recent suspension by the country's football federation, as confirmed by his nation's vice-president Teodoro Nguema on Tuesday night.
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Después de los debates, el capitán Emilio Nsue López ha anunciado su retirada de la selección. Por lo que, he reconocido sus logros durante los 12 años que ha vestido la camiseta del Nzalang Nacional y le he deseado suerte en su futuro profesional.
— teddy nguema (@teonguema) February 20, 2024
Nguema confirmed on X: "After the debates, captain Emilio Nsue López announced his retirement from the national team. Therefore, I have recognised his achievements during the 12 years that he has worn the Nzalang Nacional shirt and I have wished him luck in his professional future."
The centre-forward shot to fame in the Ivory Coast, as very little was known about him heading into the tournament due to the fact that he plies his trade in the Spanish third tier with Intercity.
Last week, the marksman reportedly made several bombshell claims against his country's FA, including allegations that the organisation had embezzled various bonuses and fees worth €1 million (R20 million) as a result of their performance at AFCON.
These allegations came after he was suspended indefinitely for "indiscipline".
According to the Daily Mail, the player further alleged that the team did not have some of the equipment they needed before their opening AFCON 2023 game against Nigeria, and that the squad was forced to pay for equipment out of their own pockets.
The publication states that it presented Nsue's claims to the Equatorial Guinea national team, to which they responded: "We think they have to look for reliable evidence to publish all the complaints made by the captain (Nsue). It would be good for this evidence to be presented, something we have not seen yet."
Nsue, who was also named in the AFCON Team of the Tournament, finishes his international career as his nation's all-time leading goalscorer with 22 goals in 43 appearances.
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