Emilio Nsue scored a hat-trick as Equatorial Guinea defeated Guinea-Bissau 4-2 in their second Group A game at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to move to the group’s top spot.

In the 21st, Nsue opened the scoring for Equatorial Guinea with a beautiful finish from Pablo Ganet’s assist, but Esteban Orozco’s own goal drew level for Guinea-Bissau in the 37th minute.

Less than 60 seconds after the break, Equatorial Guinea regained their lead courtesy of an assist from goalkeeper Jesus Owono, whose pull-out from his own box passed every Guinea-Bissau player to land on the feet of Josete Miranda, who calmly slotted it in.

In the 51st minute, Nsue scored his brace of the game as he only had to tap Basilio Ndong’s assist into an empty net before scoring his third of the game less than 10 minutes later to secure the three points for Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.

In the stoppage time, substitute Jose Correia scored to half the deficit for Guinea-Bissau, but it was not enough to rescue the Wild Dogs from their second defeat at the ongoing AFCON.

The Elephants of Equatorial Guinea moved to the top of Group A with four points from two games, giving them better chances of advancing to round 16 of the biggest football showpiece in Africa.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will tango host nation Côte d’Ivoire in the other Group A match slated for Thursday evening at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.

Côte d’Ivoire’s 2-0 win against Guinea-Bissau in their opening game and Equatorial Guinea’s victory today has put Nigeria in a tight position to strive for the maximum three points against the host to boost their chances of reaching the knockout stage.