Emilio Nsue, continuing his goal-scoring form from the previous match against Guinea-Bissau, secured a brace, propelling Equatorial Guinea to the top of the group ahead of Nigeria on goal difference. Nigeria, in the group’s other fixture, secured a 1-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau.

For Ivory Coast, a team that has only failed to progress beyond the group stage once in the last nine editions of the tournament (in 2017), this defeat poses a significant threat to their AFCON journey. The two-time champions now face an anxious wait to determine if they will advance to the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Jean-Louis Gasset’s side endured their heaviest-ever home defeat, leaving thousands of Ivory Coast supporters disheartened as Equatorial Guinea netted three goals in a span of 15 minutes, exposing the hosts’ defensive vulnerabilities.

Despite a bright start from the Ivorians, clear-cut chances were elusive, with Oumar Diakite’s ambitious attempt off target in the opening 25 minutes representing their best opportunity.

In a pivotal moment, Nicolas Pepe appeared to be fouled in the box around the half-hour mark, but the winger chose to stay on his feet, and the referee did not award a penalty, even though Equatorial Guinea’s goalkeeper, Jesus Owono, came out to gather the ball.

Now, Ivory Coast faces a precarious situation, requiring a series of favorable results to salvage their AFCON campaign.

The team’s fate hangs in the balance as they await the outcome of other group stage matches to determine whether they can secure a spot in the knockout stage.