African Cup of Nations 2012: Equatorial Guinea

Intro into team

Formed in the early 1970?s upon their nation’s independence from Spain, the Equatorial Guinea football team has been one of African football’s slowest of all that continent’s slow burners. Their largest victory came only this year with a 3-0 win over Central African Republic, whilst their record in international competitions has been hampered somewhat by a dictatorial government and not entering qualifying competitions until democratic rule arrived in the early 2000s.

The colonial past has reaped some benefits for the game; a growing number of Spanish-born players can claim Equatoguinean heritage and a place in the international side.

Their recent history in the African Cup of Nations is fairly abysmal – losing in the Preliminary Qualifying round in 2002 and 2006, bottom of the First Round Qualifying in 2004 and 2010, and falling at the First Round in 2008.

How Did They Qualify?

By ‘doing a Ukraine’ and hosting the event, with co-hosts Gabon by their side. This will be the final ACN to take part in even-numbered years, in an attempt to decouple the contest from the FIFA World Cup. It means only a year separates the 2012 finals from the 2013 contest in South Africa.

Amongst the friendly games played during the year, the Nzalang Nacional fell to defeats against Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso, and beat Madagascar on their way to the group stages of the 2014 World Cup Qualifying. In the ACN Finals, they are in Group A with Zambia, Senegal, and 2015 hosts Libya.

Estadio de Bata, the home of Equatorial Guinea and the stadium in which the ACN 2012 opening ceremony will take place.Courtesy of tadpolefarmer.

Manager

Chosen three weeks prior to the start of the tournament, Gílson Paulo was previously Director of Sports at the Brazil-based Vasco de Gama academy. This last minute appointment follows the resignation of Henri Michel, the Former French national manager, who left the post in October for a couple of weeks and again in December. Michel has a close relationship with African football, having taken the Côte d’Ivoire team to the 2006 World Cup, winning the CAF Cup in 2003 and a somewhat less successful stint as Morocco manager in 2008. His disagreements with the football association and various Sports Ministers seem to have ended, for good this time, his stint as manager.

Michel’s record as a manager shines less brightly than his playing years, although there is the little matter that the route to third place for France at the 1986 World Cup Finals came via the Brazil quarter-final so often considered amongst the best games in the history of the sport. France would claim Olympic victory under him too during one of the many peaks in France’s tumultuous relationship with the game. That word “tumultuous” could act as the byword for Michel’s CV in recent years, his name being put over the doors at twelve different club and country sides since the year 2000. His Ivorian success story five years ago is his longest managerial time in office outside Europe.

Star Men

Lawrence Boe – The call-up of the 33-year old defender has secured a renowned favourite amongst Equatoguinean fans. He was amongst the successful Renacimiento team who won four domestic titles in Equatorial Guinea and has seen the goals pouring in during a tour of French select teams this year. Currently based in Oman, where the goals have dried up to accompany the climate, Doe is still considered highly favoured for his naturalised team.

Iban “Randy” Travieso – Iban is amongst the best rated players at Deportiva Las Palmas, the team he has called home his whole professional career. Now starting to get the goals on the international game, “Randy” is a left-footed midfielder who, at 24, is one of the country’s best young prospects.

Starting XI

Spain will lose up to seven players to Equatorial Guinea, albeit from the lower leagues, when the ACN starts. It is the greatest haul of any qualified team, ahead of Senegal on three. Against Madagascar during the 2014 World Cup qualifying, six of those seven were selected or substituted and should be considered as likely to begin the first game next year.

In the spirit of not wanting to change things too much, that would mean the opening game against Libya could see the hosts turn out Ovono, Bokung, Sipo, Rui, Edjogo, Eyama, Konate, Doe, Viera, Ekedo and Randy.

How far can they go?

Realistically, the hosts will probably reflect Ukraine and find the Group Stages all they can handle. Against much lesser sides the results don’t look pretty – no clean sheets, no great goal hauls in the run-up and a FIFA Ranking of 150 puts them beneath Samoa and only two places above Nepal. Up against Libya and Senegal, they will have seriously hard games, so a good face-saving early exit is all they could wish for.