Following a player strike that obstructed the team’s journey to Malawi for a pivotal World Cup qualifying match, Equatorial Guinea has relieved head coach Juan Micha of his duties and excluded several prominent players from the squad. This incident has put the national football federation at risk of disciplinary action by FIFA.
Among those dropped is the experienced captain Emilio Nsue, as confirmed by officials from the federation yesterday. The players who refused to travel cited unresolved contractual disagreements and financial grievances as the main reasons behind their boycott of this crucial fixture.
The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation communicated Micha’s dismissal via social media, declaring, “Players summoned for these FIFA fixtures who wish to continue representing the national team must submit their names for selection. Those who decline will be considered as having withdrawn from the squad.”
In anticipation of the upcoming encounter with Liberia on Monday, interim coach Casto Nopo has announced a revamped squad. This lineup notably omits several key figures from the previous Africa Cup of Nations campaign, where Equatorial Guinea made headlines by emphatically defeating the host nation Ivory Coast 4-0. The reshuffle signals a fresh start amid ongoing internal challenges.