Emilio Nsue grabbed a sensational hat-trick as Equatorial Guinea defeated Guinea-Bissau 4-2 in their CAF Africa Cup of Nations Group A clash in Abidjan on Thursday.
After a cagey opening, Equatorial Guinea took the lead when Nsue pounced on a defensive error to slot home on 20 minutes.
But Guinea-Bissau hit back through an Esteban Orozco own goal forced by Franculino Dju’s pressure to level on 37 minutes.
The Nzalang Nacional retook the lead straight after half-time when Josete Miranda fired home following a long goal kick.
Nsue then punished more sloppy defending to bag his second on 51 minutes and sealed his hat-trick just after the hour mark with an emphatic finish.
Guinea-Bissau pulled one back deep in added time through Ze Turbo but it only served as a consolation.
Nsue became the first player to score a AFCON finals treble since Morocco’s Soufiane Alloudi against Namibia in 2008.
The thumping win fires Equatorial Guinea top of Group A on four points ahead of Cote d’Ivoire’s clash with Nigeria later on Thursday.
“This was a complete performance and gets our campaign back on track,” said Nzalang Nacional coach Juan Micha.
With one games remaining, Equatorial Guinea now stand on the brink of a second straight appearance in the AFCON knockout stage.
On this evidence, with star man Nsue in scintillating form, they have the firepower to concern any defence left in the tournament.
