Footballer Emilio Nsue, top scorer at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), has decided to retire from international football at the age of 34. Suspended by the Equatorial Guinea Football Federation for unprofessional behavior, Nsue announced his decision on social media, ending his international career with the national team.
CAN 2023 in Ivory Coast marked Nsue’s last participation in the colors of the Equatoguinean selection. Despite being the tournament’s top scorer, the striker was left out of the national team due to his behavior during the competition.
The Federation justified the suspension of Nsue, as well as his teammate Edu Salvador, for reasons of inappropriate conduct, according to an official statement. Following this decision, Nsue publicly denounced acts of corruption within the federation and expressed his refusal to continue playing as long as the current leaders remained in place.
Despite an attempt at reconciliation orchestrated by the country’s vice president, Nsue maintained his decision to withdraw from the national team. With 23 goals scored in 42 appearances for Nzalang Nacional, Nsue was a mainstay of the team for many years and left an indelible mark, notably in the 4-0 victory over Ivory Coast in the AFCON 2023.
A former Spanish international hopeful, Nsue chose to represent Equatorial Guinea in 2013, racking up remarkable performances throughout his international career. His decision to end his career with the national team marks the end of an important chapter for Guinean football and leaves fans with unforgettable memories of his exploits on the pitch.
