Drogba close to tears as AFCON hosts Ivory Coast humbled by Equatorial Guinea
See reactions as Drogba comes close to tears in Ivory Coast's 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea in their AFCON 2023 final group game.
It appears that Ivory Coast would have to leave their home Africa Cup of Nations early due to a humiliating loss to Equatorial Guinea.
In what will undoubtedly go down as one of the worst nights in Ivorian football history, the hosts were destroyed 4-0 at home in the final round of Group A matches on Monday night, despite probably only needing a point to advance to the AFCON last 16.
Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan was filled with shock and rage as veteran captain Emilio Nsue, who scored the first tournament hat-trick in about 16 years last week, helped himself to an opportunistic brace.
Pablo Ganet's incredible free kick and substitute Jannick Buyla's late, scuffed effort finished the slaughter on a historic night for the seasoned giant-killers Equatorial Guinea.
The Nzalang Nacional, who shocked the reigning champions Algeria in Cameroon two years ago, finished fourth in the 2015 AFCON and advanced to the round of sixteen ahead of Nigeria as Group A victors.
The Super Eagles defeated Guinea-Bissau 1-0 at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium on Monday, forcing them to settle for second place on goal differential.
Ivory Coast now has to wait nervously to watch how this week's remaining group stage matches play out and whether three points will be enough to get them through as one of the final eight best third-placed teams in the competition.
At Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Saturday night, Nigeria will take on the runners-up from Group C, most likely Guinea or Cameroon, in their first knockout match.
