Equatorial Guinea Takes Action: Emilio Nsué and Edu Salvador Suspended for Misconduct

Nsué, the captain and top scorer of the team with five goals, and Salvador, a midfielder, were accused of violating the code of conduct and damaging the image of the national team and the country, the federation said in a statement.

Nsué, who plays for Spanish club Intercity, was involved in several episodes of indiscipline before and after the tournament, while Salvador, who plays for Bosnian club Tuzla City, caused an unpleasant incident in Abidjan on Jan. 29 that required the intervention of the Ivorian police, the statement said.

The federation did not provide further details on the nature of the incidents, but local media reported that Salvador had assaulted a taxi driver who refused to accept his payment in foreign currency, and had resisted the arrest by the police.

The federation expressed its regret and condemnation for the actions of the two players, and stressed the need to maintain discipline within the national team, and to preserve the positive image of Equatorial Guinea in the African football world.

Equatorial Guinea finished third in Group A of the CAN, behind Ivory Coast and Algeria, and failed to qualify for the quarter-finals. They won one game, drew one and lost one, scoring six goals and conceding four.

Nsué, who was born in Spain and switched his allegiance to Equatorial Guinea, his father’s country, in 2013, is the all-time top scorer of the national team with 22 goals in 43 appearances. He has played for several clubs in Spain, England and Cyprus.

Salvador, who was also born in Spain and has Equatoguinean ancestry, made his debut for the national team in 2019. He has played for several clubs in Spain, Romania and Bosnia.