Equatorial Guinea improved their chance of qualifying for the round of 16 a huge boost, following a 4-2 win against Guinea-Bissau in the AFCON 2023 Group A game on Thursday.

The win means Equatorial Guinea, now on four points, temporarily go top in Group A.

Emilio Nsue becomes the first player to score a hat-trick at this year’s tournament.

At the age of 34 years and 110 days, Nsue is the oldest player in AFCON history to score a hat-trick.

Also, it is the first AFCON hat-trick in 15 years, 362 days, since Soufiane Alloudi did so for Morocco against Namibia in January 2008.

Nsue opened the scoring in the game 21st minute but an own goal by Orozco Fernandez made it 1-1 on 37 minutes.

Also Read: AFCON 2023: Peseiro Changes Formation; Starts Bassey, Chukwueze Against Cote d’Ivoire

Josete Miranda put Equatorial Guinea 2-1 ahead on 46 minutes while Nsue grabbed his second of the game to make it 3-1 on 51 minutes.

In the 61st minute Nsue completed his hat-trick to put Equatorial Guinea 4-1 up.