Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast LIVE! AFCON result, match stream and latest updates today
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast LIVE!
Ivory Coast are on the verge of making a shock early exit from their home Africa Cup of Nations. The 2023 tournament hosts face an anxious wait now this week to see if there is any possibility of still reaching the last 16 after falling to a humiliating 4-0 loss at the hands of Equatorial Guinea as Group A drew to a stunning conclusion on Monday night.
It was the heaviest home defeat in their history for Ivory Coast, whose dreadful -3 goal difference may now surely prevent them from scraping through to the knockout rounds as one of the final best four third-place finishers at AFCON. Equatorial Guinea advance as group winners, meanwhile, ahead of Nigeria on goal difference after the Super Eagles beat minnows Guinea-Bissau 1-0 on Monday.
Captain Emilio Nsue followed up last week's historic hat-trick with a brace in Abidjan, while there was a brilliant free-kick from Pablo Ganet and a late effort from substitute Jannick Buyla on one of the most famous nights in their history. Follow Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast reaction from AFCON live below!
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast highlights
GOAL! Buyla scuffs in fourth for Equatorial Guinea
GOAL! Nsue adds his second on the break
GOAL! Pablo Ganet nets a terrific free-kick
GOAA... NO! Krasso denied by the offside flag
GOAA... NO! Sangare equaliser ruled out
GOAL! Nsue shocks hosts with first-half finish
Who next for Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria?
20:28 , George Flood
Equatorial Guinea now face a last-16 tie with a third-placed team from either Group C, D or E back at Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan next Sunday evening.
Nigeria will play the runners-up from Group C - likely Guinea or Cameroon - in their first knockout clash at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Saturday night, while if they did somehow squeeze through against the odds, then Ivory Coast would play either Group B winners Cape Verde or the winners of Group C - set to be defending champions Senegal - next weekend.
Match report
20:23 , George Flood
Ivory Coast look set for an embarrassing early exit from their home Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a humiliating defeat against Equatorial Guinea.
The hosts went into Monday evening's final round of Group A fixtures likely only needing a point to secure their progress through into the AFCON last 16, but instead they were thrashed 4-0 in a heaviest-ever home loss on what will surely go down as one of the very worst nights in Ivorian football history.
Veteran captain Emilio Nsue - who netted the first competition hat-trick for some 16 years last week - helped himself to an opportunistic brace at a stunned and angry Alassane Ouattara Stadium in the capital Abidjan, with a superb free-kick from Pablo Ganet and a late scuffed effort from substitute Jannick Buyla completing the rout on a famous night for established giant-killers Equatorial Guinea.
The Nzalang Nacional - fourth-place AFCON finishers in 2015 and quarter-finalists in both 2012 and 2021, stunning defending champions Algeria in Cameroon two years ago - sail through to the last 16 as Group A winners ahead of Nigeria, who are made to accept second spot on goal difference after a 1-0 win over already-eliminated Guinea-Bissau at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium on Monday.
Read the match report in full here
Equatorial Guinea 4-0 Ivory Coast
19:24 , George Flood
What a final scoreline at a stunned and angry Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
Hosts Ivory Coast are surely now heading for an embarrassing early exit from their home Africa Cup of Nations after suffering the heaviest home defeat in their entire history - at the hands of Equatorial Guinea.
Total humiliation for them tonight. Three points could still be enough to see them scrape through to the last 16 as one the last of the four best third-placed teams that will advance, but a miserable -3 goal difference seems likely to prevent even that.
Equatorial Guinea - fourth-place AFCON finishers in 2015 and quarter-finalists in both 2012 and 2021 - have another major scalp to their name and sail through to the knockouts as Group A winners on goal difference ahead of Nigeria, who beat Guinea-Bissau 1-0 at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium tonight.
What a night for the Nzalang Nacional!
Equatorial Guinea 4-0 Ivory Coast
19:01 , George Flood
Full-time
Equatorial Guinea 4-0 Ivory Coast
18:59 , George Flood
95 mins: It should be five late on for Equatorial Guinea, but an effort sails over the bar.
Ivory Coast waste another chance and there are loud boos now coming from the stands.
Is this the end for Jean-Louis Gasset's tenure after less than two years?
Equatorial Guinea 4-0 Ivory Coast
18:55 , George Flood
92 mins: Into seven minutes of stoppage time in Abidjan.
There have been some frustrating scenes on that Ivorian bench and it looks like some angry fans are now trying to get onto the pitch.
Utter disbelief at the heavy nature of this defeat.
GOAL! Equatorial Guinea 4-0 Ivory Coast | Jannick Buyla 88'
18:50 , George Flood
88 mins: I don't know what to say about this anymore!
Substitute Jannick Buyla - who replaced the injured Josete Miranda earlier on - scuffs in a rebound and it's four for Equatorial Guinea, who are in utter dreamland here.
A sensational scoreline in Abidjan. The hosts have been totally and utterly humiliated in a massive AFCON shock.
Their goal difference is now -3. Surely that will put paid to their chances of sneaking through as a third-place team.
Equatorial Guinea 3-0 Ivory Coast
18:49 , George Flood
87 mins: Gradel and Krasso both shoot wide before Equatorial Guinea scramble clear after a drop from Owono.
The Group A winners elect want to hang on to this clean sheet.
Equatorial Guinea 3-0 Ivory Coast
18:48 , George Flood
85 mins: Max Gradel and the fit-again Simon Adingra have both been sent on in an attempt to find some sort of consolation for Ivory Coast here.
Equatorial Guinea 3-0 Ivory Coast
18:46 , George Flood
82 mins: Another chance for Ivory Coast inside the final 10 minutes as Seko Fofana gets to the byline and pulls back for Krasso, whose effort is blocked.
Three points could still be enough to see the hosts scrape through as one of the final best third-place teams, though their goal difference is now a woeful -2.
That could be a real killer.
Equatorial Guinea 3-0 Ivory Coast
18:42 , George Flood
80 mins: Ivory Coast aren't throwing in the towel yet and are still creating chances, but they just can't test Owono as Seko Fofana now fires off target.
Equatorial Guinea obviously think it's job done - Nsue and Iban Salvador have both gone off.
No back-to-back AFCON hat-tricks for captain Nsue.
GOAL! Equatorial Guinea 3-0 Ivory Coast | Emilio Nsue 75'
18:37 , George Flood
75 mins: IT'S THREE!
Ivory Coast try to lump the ball forward and give it away too easily, with Nsue slotting home on the break after being teed up by Jose Machin.
Total humiliation for the hosts now.
GOAL! Equatorial Guinea 2-0 Ivory Coast | Pablo Ganet 72'
18:34 , George Flood
72 mins: WHAT A GOAL!
It's a superb free-kick from Ganet, with Yahia Fofana getting a hand to it but failing to keep it out.
The hosts are in deep, deep trouble now.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
18:33 , George Flood
69 mins: Two penalty appeals in quick succession from Ivory Coast are waved away - one for handball by Ndong and the other for a push on Sangare.
Neither are given as their frustration builds.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
18:28 , George Flood
67 mins: The triple change looks to pay off immediately!
Seko Fofana plays a lovely reverse pass for Jean-Philippe Krasso, who nets a terrific finish into the far bottom corner.
More celebrations ensue, but again this looks offside. And it is ruled out.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
18:27 , George Flood
65 mins: Ivory Coast boss Jean-Louis Gasset is making a triple change with 25 minutes left to play in Abidjan.
Boga, Krasso and Konate all come on.
Off go Kouame, Pepe and Konan. Kouame looks heartbroken as he trudges off.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
18:25 , George Flood
63 mins: Pepe curls a left-footed effort high and wide of the back post.
Another Equatorial Guinea player is now down and receiving treatment as cameras pan to Miranda on the bench with an ice pack fixed to his leg.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
18:23 , George Flood
60 mins: Still Equatorial Guinea lead as we tick past the hour mark at Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
Sangare is operating as an extra forward almost for Ivory Coast, who have spurned a couple of big chances to equalise already in this second half.
It's starting to feel a little panicked and desperate, but there is still plenty of time to get the goal that would likely send them through to the last 16.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
18:20 , George Flood
58 mins: The injured Miranda has now been replaced for Equatorial Guinea, who are back up to a full complement of 11 players.
Now Owono makes a crucial save to deny Kouame!
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
18:18 , George Flood
56 mins: Diakite is the main threat again for Ivory Coast, twisting and turning down the right before delivering a short cross that is headed well wide of the front post by Seko Fofana, who got his bearings all wrong.
Ivory Coast need to get Diakite on the ball as much as possible here.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
18:16 , George Flood
53 mins: Coco hits a venomous, swerving free-kick that moves a lot in the air and is saved in very unorthodox fashion by Yahia Fofana.
Josete Miranda has just gone off on a stretcher for Equatorial Guinea, who are down to 10 men at the moment.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
18:14 , George Flood
50 mins: Equatorial Guinea waste an attacking platform at one end before Diakite comes streaming down the right again for Ivory Coast.
Owono comes to get a hand to his cross before Konan miscues well wide.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
18:11 , George Flood
47 mins: An early second-half chance for Sangare, but he lashes well over the bar at the back post!
He should have done so much better with that.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
18:08 , George Flood
Back underway in Abidjan!
Ivory Coast have 45 minutes to save their Africa Cup of Nations campaign on home soil.
No changes from either side at the interval.
As it stands in Group A
18:02 , George Flood
So Ivory Coast trail at the break and Nigeria lead Guinea-Bissau 1-0 at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium after Opa Sangante's own goal.
As things stand, Equatorial Guinea would go through to the last 16 as Group A winners, with Nigeria also advancing as runners-up.
A shock defeat would surely send Ivory Coast out, with three points presumably not enough to claim one of those four spots reserved for the best third-place group finishers.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
17:53 , George Flood
Half-time
A nightmare for Ivory Coast, who trail at the break very much against the run of play.
Are they going to be condemned to an embarrassing early exit from their home tournament?
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
17:52 , George Flood
48 mins: Equatorial Guinea are living very dangerously indeed at the end of this first half as they almost concede from another corner.
They just about survive though and the half-time whistle sounds.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
17:51 , George Flood
47 mins: Into three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half as Fofana hits the deck for Ivory Coast and demands a penalty.
He won't get it and there are some yellows dished out after tempers fray once more.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast
17:50 , George Flood
45 mins: Ivory Coast think they are swiftly level on the stroke of half-time as Pepe's cross from the right is flicked on by Kouame and Sangare gets in to finish at the back post.
The stadium erupts, but replays show that the Nottingham Forest midfielder was offside there.
It won't count.
GOAL! Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Ivory Coast | Emilio Nsue 42'
17:43 , George Flood
40 mins: The shock is on!
It's a great run from San Jose Earthquakes right-back Carlos Akapo, who weaves his way in off the flank before teeing up captain Nsue for a smart low finish into the far corner.
Wow, Ivory Coast are stunned.
Nsue's fourth goal in two games!
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:39 , George Flood
36 mins: The latest Ivorian corner is deflected high into the air before being claimed by Owono, who is left in a painful heap after a challenge from Kouame.
He stays down in need of treatment and tempers then flare, with the Equatorial Guinea players not at all happy with that clash.
Bikoro makes his feelings clear to Kouame as the referee tries to restore calm.
It is a free-kick to Equatorial Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:37 , George Flood
35 mins: Ivory Coast sweep the ball back out right to Diakite, whose low cross just evades its intended target before Konan is crucially challenged by Iban Salvador.
Salvador ends up giving away another corner.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:35 , George Flood
33 mins: Back underway after the first-half cooling break, with some obvious disagreements in the Ivory Coast camp there - led by Franck Kessie.
But they charge forward again and a dangerous low cross from the right is seized upon by Owono.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:33 , George Flood
30 mins: What a chance for Ivory Coast to take the lead on the half-hour mark!
A long ball forward from defence picks out Kouame, whose first touch lays it perfecly into the path of Pepe.
Pepe gets into the box and stays on his feet amid a chopping challenge from Akapo, but is forced too wide and is eventually thwarted bravely by Owono.
That was a certain penalty if Pepe went down there.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:31 , George Flood
28 mins: A bad mistake at the back from Equatorial Guinea opens the door again for ex-Arsenal winger Pepe, but his cross is quickly blocked behind by Saul Coco.
Another Ivorian corner is then cleared.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:28 , George Flood
25 mins: Diakite has arguably been Ivory Coast's brightest player so far, but that's absolutely wild as he smashes high into the Abidjan sky after a deep cross from the left flank and a risky attempted punch from Owono.
Equatorial Guinea are working hard to get so many red shirts behind the ball.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:24 , George Flood
20 mins: No real flow to this game at the moment, with a number of Equatorial Guinea players staying down after aerial tussles.
A deliberate tactic to deny the Ivorians any momentum?
Thankfully for Equatorial Guinea, Iban Salvador is now back on his feet and continuing with the game.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:21 , George Flood
19 mins: Iban Salvador - who scored for Equatorial Guinea in their opening draw with Nigeria - is down and in need of treatment.
The stretcher is being prepared. This would be a huge loss.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:19 , George Flood
18 mins: Pepe is into the box in dangerous fashion for Ivory Coast, but he lacks composure with the final ball and a poor low pass is booted into touch by Carlos Akapo.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:18 , George Flood
16 mins: The lively Diakite weaves down the right flank for Ivory Coast, getting to the byline before delivering a low cross that is flicked towards goal by Kouame.
The ball is easily claimed by Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:16 , George Flood
13 mins: Miranda is doing his best to get Equatorial Guinea up the pitch as he's clattered by Pepe before being brought down by Sangare.
The TV cameras pan to ex-Ivory Coast stalwart Salomon Kalou in the stands before Saul Coco shoots well wide for Nzalang Nacional.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:14 , George Flood
12 mins: Pepe is pushed in the back by Bikoro before being fouled by Josete Miranda, who has a bit too much to say to the referee in response and picks up the first yellow card of the evening.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:13 , George Flood
11 mins: Plenty of early set-piece defending here for Equatorial Guinea, but to their credit they are stepping up to deal with the initial barrage.
Ivory Coast will want to take advantage of one of these chances sooner rather than later.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:12 , George Flood
9 mins: Reims forward Diakite gets the crowd on their feet with a great show of strength, but his cross in towards Kouame is too high.
Iban Salvador is then whistled for a foul on Konan, giving Ivory Coast the chance to deliver another set-piece into the box.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:08 , George Flood
5 mins: Equatorial Guinea clear their lines again before Ivory Coast concede a foul on the edge of their opponents' box while trying to get a shot away.
Jean-Louis Gasset will be eager for his side to keep up this early pressure.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:06 , George Flood
4 mins: This has been a bright start from Ivory Coast, with Konan now in down the left.
Diakite is also involved as Sangare tries to tee up a chance, but Equatorial Guinea end up conceding another early corner.
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Ivory Coast
17:03 , George Flood
2 mins: Great noise around the sun-soaked ground as Ivory Coast immediately get on the front foot and push for an early corner that is overhit from the right.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
17:01 , George Flood
Great noise for the Ivory Coast anthem, as you might expect. Great support for the hosts this evening.
Underway at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium!
Mahmoud Ismail of Sudan is today's referee.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
16:57 , George Flood
The teams are out on the pitch in Abidjan and it's time for the national anthems.
Ivory Coast are in their white change strips this evening, with Equatorial Guinea in red.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
16:49 , George Flood
Final preparations at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium!
There should be some atmosphere in Abidjan this evening as the hosts look to seal their AFCON knockout berth.
An embarrassing group stage exit seems unlikely, but certainly not impossible.
Equatorial Guinea name unchanged team
16:43 , George Flood
Equatorial Guinea are unchanged from their 4-2 win over Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile.
Pablo Ganet is fit to retain his place in midfield after leaving on a stretcher in that game on Thursday.
Former Middlesbrough and Birmingham man Emilio Nsue, the captain, will be looking for more goals after he scored the first AFCON hat-trick for some 16 years last week.
Simon Adingra on Ivory Coast bench
16:32 , George Flood
Confirmation there with those benches that Sebastien Haller is not involved for Ivory Coast again this evening.
However, as expected, Brighton's Simon Adingra is deemed fit enough for a seat on the bench.
Teams in full
16:30 , George Flood
Equatorial Guinea XI: Owono, Akapo, Obiang, Coco, Ndong, Pepin, Miranda, Ganet, Bikoro, Salvador, Nsue
Subs: Senra, Elo, Buyla, Charles Ondo, Embela, Balboa, Nlavo, Eneme, Sapunga, Jose Ondo, Siafa, Nguema
Ivory Coast XI: Yahia Fofana, Singo, Konan, Boly, N'Dicka, Ibrahim Sangare, Kessie, Seko Fofana, Diakite, Pepe, Kouame
Subs: Seri, Kossounou, Bamba, Konate, Krasso, Boga, Gradel, Aurier, Badra Ali Sangare, Adingra, Diallo, Amani
Four Ivory Coast changes from Nigeria defeat
16:22 , George Flood
I make that four changes to the Ivory Coast team that started the 1-0 defeat by Nigeria in Group A on Thursday.
Monaco's Wilfried Singo and Nottingham Forest's Willy Boly have replaced captain Serge Aurier - also of Forest - and Ousmane Diomande in defence.
It's the same midfield, but with ex-Arsenal man Nicolas Pepe and teenager Oumar Diakite coming into the attack in place of Jean-Philippe Krasso and Jeremie Boga.
No Sebastien Haller for Ivory Coast again
16:14 , George Flood
I am yet to see the official squad lists for both sides, but I don't believe that Sebastien Haller has even made the bench for Ivory Coast this evening.
That's a shock after what head coach Jean-Louis Gasset said about him returning to the group this week and means the Borussia Dortmund striker has now sat out the entire AFCON group stage.
However, it sounds like Brighton's Simon Adingra may well be among the substitutes for the hosts.
Equatorial Guinea lineup
16:08 , George Flood
Equatorial Guinea XI: Owono, Akapo, Obiang, Coco, Ndong, Machin, Miranda, Ganet, Bikoro, Salvador, Nsue
Ivory Coast lineup
16:08 , George Flood
Ivory Coast XI: Fofana, Konan, Singo, Ndicka, Boly, Fofana, Kessie, Sangare, Pepe, Kouame, Diakite
Lineups on the way
16:02 , George Flood
Team news is imminent at Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
Stay tuned! Will Sebastien Haller and Simon Adingra be starting for Ivory Coast?
Gasset: Ivory Coast have destiny in our own hands
15:54 , George Flood
Meanwhile, experienced Ivory Coast boss Jean-Louis Gasset has stressed the importance of his side having their last-16 fate in their own hands in Abidjan this evening.
"We have our destiny in our hands and that's very important," he said.
"Sometimes, when you arrive at tournaments like this, you have to wait for other results.
"We don't have to wait for other people's results. We know that if we win, we'll qualify. That's the most important thing and the players know it.
"We're playing a home game in front of our fans. Up to now, we've done a lot of good things, so we must believe. More than ever we must believe."
Juan Micha: Pressure is all on the Ivory Coast in Group A
15:38 , George Flood
Despite their position as surprise Group A leaders looking to reach the AFCON knockout stages once again, Equatorial Guinea boss Juan Micha insists that all the pressure today is on hosts Ivory Coast in front of their home crowd.
It seems that Los Elefantes are planning to counter a fast start from their opponents by picking them off on the break to secure a huge upset.
“It will be a very difficult match for both teams but more especially for Cote d’Ivoire because they are under pressure to win," Micha said.
"We will approach the match in a calm manner. We will not wait.
"We know that they will come at us and open up which will allow us to surprise them at their own stadium.
"We know that they are under pressure and not us."
Last-16 possibilities for Group A qualifiers
15:24 , George Flood
The winners of Group A will contest their last-16 game against a third-place team from Group C, D or E, with that game back at Alassane Ouattara Stadium - AKA the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe - on Sunday night.
The runner-up from Group A, meanwhile, will play the runner-up from Group C - possibly Guinea or Cameroon - on Saturday night at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.
If a third-place team qualifies, as seems very likely, they would take on either Group B winners Cape Verde next Monday night, or the winners of Group C - likely Senegal - at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro later the same evening.
No doubt all three teams will be keen to stay in Abidjan if they can, rather than have to travel.
Group A permutations
15:12 , George Flood
Ivory Coast would certainly like to win tonight to guarantee their spot in the last 16 and recover some lost momentum at their home AFCON.
They go into the game sitting third on three points and at the top of the table of best third-place teams, with eight of those going through.
A draw would surely be enough to send them into the knockouts, though it would be an underwhelming outcome that hardly puts them among the top contenders for glory.
A shock defeat, meanwhile, would surely see them eliminated early from their home tournament in embarrassing fashion.
Equatorial Guinea need only a point to go through and will be confirmed as surprise Group A winners if Nigeria fail to match their result against Ivory Coast in their own game against Guinea-Bissau, or if they do match their result but don't overtake them on goal difference.
Equatorial Guinea currently have a narrow advantage of one goal over the Super Eagles in that department.
Guinea-Bissau are the only team that cannot hope to advance from Group A tonight after their back-to-back losses.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast prediction
14:57 , George Flood
While Equatorial Guinea have acquitted themselves well at this tournament again, Ivory Coast will surely have enough to get back to winning ways in front of their passionate home support.
Ivory Coast to win, 1-0.
Ivory Coast team news
14:54 , George Flood
Ivory Coast, who followed up their 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on opening night with a frustrating 1-0 loss to Nigeria on Thursday, look set for a potential huge double fitness boost for this key encounter in Abidjan this evening.
Star striker Sebastien Haller and Brighton winger Simon Adingra have not played at all at this AFCON so far due to injury, but head coach Jean-Louis Gasset said this week that both attackers will be back in the squad against Equatorial Guinea.
“We know that if we win, we are qualified and that is important. Haller will be in the group," he said.
"Everyone is talking about Haller. I would like to add Simon Adingra. Both will be in the group. We will have to be efficient and score quickly."
Equatorial Guinea team news
14:49 , George Flood
Equatorial Guinea have been hugely competitive at this tournament once again, having reached the quarter-finals in both 2012 and 2021 and even finished fourth in 2015.
They go into tonight's final round of games sitting top of Group A on four points after holding Nigeria to a shock 1-1 draw in their opener and then brushing aside minnows Guinea-Bissau 4-2 thanks to a hat-trick from veteran former Middlesbrough and Birmingham striker Emilio Nsue - the first AFCON treble of any kind for some 16 years.
Nzalang Nacional boss Juan Micha is not believed to have any fresh new injury concerns for this meeting with Ivory Coast, though Spanish-born midfielder Pablo Ganet is a doubt after being stretchered off in their last game.
Where to watch Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
14:41 , George Flood
TV channel: The game will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Coverage starts at 4:55pm GMT.
Live stream: Subscribers will also be able to watch on a live stream online via the Sky Go app.
Welcome to Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast live coverage
14:36 , George Flood
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's latest live coverage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The third and final round of group stage fixtures begins today, with Group A first reaching what promises to be a thrilling conclusion in the capital of Abidjan.
We'll have live coverage of Nigeria's clash with Guinea-Bissau at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, not to mention the huge Group B clashes involving Ghana and Egypt later on, but here our focus is on events at Alassane Ouattara Stadium, where hosts Ivory Coast will be looking to seal their place in the last 16 as they take on surprise Group A leaders Equatorial Guinea.
Kick-off is at 5pm GMT, so stay tuned for latest team news, live updates and those all-important qualification permutations.
