Equatorial Guinea may not belong to Africa’s traditional football powerhouses, but over the years the team has earned a reputation as a true tournament specialist. Often underestimated, the Nzalang Nacional have repeatedly managed to rise above themselves and deliver unforgettable moments. With a mix of fighting spirit, tactical awareness and strong team cohesion, they have grown into an opponent no one can take lightly. The Africa Cup 2025 promises yet another stage where Equatorial Guinea can show why they have captured the hearts of so many fans.
- Nickname: Nzalang Nacional
- Head coach: Juan Micha
- Football Association: Federación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol
- AFCON appearances: 4 times
- FIFA ranking: 92
Equatorial Guinea’s Match Schedule
Equatorial Guinea have been drawn into Group E, alongside Algeria, Burkina Faso and Sudan. Below is their full group stage schedule, including dates, times and venues. So you know exactly when to follow Nzalang Nacional.
| 24 December | 15:30 uur |
 Burkina Faso Equatorial Guinea | Stade Mohammed V Matchday 1 |
| 28 December | 15:30 uur |
Equatorial Guinea Sudan | Stade Mohammed V Matchday 2 |
| 31 December | 18:00 uur |
Equatorial Guinea Algeria | Stade Moulay El Hassan Matchday 3 |
Road of 16 Scenarios
First place: If Equatorial Guinea tops Group E, they will face the runner-up from Group D (Benin, Botswana, DR Congo, Senegal). This match will be played at the Stade Moulay El Hassan in Rabat.
Second place: If they finish second, they will play the winner of Group F (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Mozambique). This match will take place at the Grand Stade de Marrakech.
Best third place: If Equatorial Guinea qualifies as one of the best third-placed teams, there are two possible outcomes:
- If they finish above the third-placed team from Group B or F, they will face the winner of Group D (Benin, Botswana, DR Congo, Senegal) at the Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangier.
- If they rank higher than the third-placed team from Group C or D, they will meet the winner of Group A (Comoros, Mali, Morocco, Zambia) at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
Equatorial Guinea Squad
The official squad list will be published here once announced.
| Keepers | |
| Defenders | |
| Midfielders | |
| Attackers | |
Head Coach Equatorial Guinea
Juan Micha is the architect of modern Equatorial Guinea. His approach is built on trust, team unity, and flexibility. Known for his pragmatic tactics and ability to maximize his squad’s potential, Micha has transformed the Nzalang Nacional into a stubborn and dangerous opponent for Africa’s elite teams.
Star Player Equatorial Guinea
Iban Salvador, also known as Iban Edú, is the heartbeat of the national team and currently plays for Wisła Płock in Poland’s top division. His career has included stints in Spain with Valladolid, Fuenlabrada and Celta B, before moving to Poland in 2024. Since making his international debut in 2015, Salvador has become a cornerstone of the national side, amassing over 50 caps and scoring 9 goals.
What sets Salvador apart is not just his technical skill and vision but also his charisma and presence on the pitch, often highlighted by his trademark pink hairstyle. During AFCON 2021 in Cameroon, he was named Man of the Match twice (against Algeria and Sierra Leone) and proved decisive in the penalty shootout victory over Mali in the knockout stage. His combination of determination, technical finesse and leadership makes him the driving force of the Nzalang Nacional.
Equatorial Guinea AFCON History
Since their AFCON debut in 2012, Equatorial Guinea have repeatedly made headlines as one of the continent’s surprise packages. Despite not being part of Africa’s traditional elite, the Nzalang Nacional have delivered some of the tournament’s most memorable stories.
As co-hosts in 2012, they enjoyed a dream debut, reaching the quarterfinals thanks in part to a historic victory over Senegal in the group stage. Three years later, in 2015, they once again hosted and went even further, advancing to the semifinals after a dramatic quarterfinal win against Tunisia.
After missing a few editions, Equatorial Guinea returned in 2021 and once again impressed. They stunned reigning champions Algeria in the group stage and reached the quarterfinals, solidifying their reputation as a fearless tournament team.
Road to AFCON 2025
Equatorial Guinea booked their ticket to the 2025 tournament by finishing second in a tough qualifying group behind Algeria. They collected eight points from six matches, with crucial wins over Liberia and an important draw against the favorites, Algeria. Despite suffering a heavy defeat to Togo, the Nzalang Nacional showed resilience and efficiency at key moments, securing yet another place on Africa’s biggest stage.
| Thursday 5 September 2024 | |
| Algeria Equatorial Guinea | 2 0 |
| Monday 9 September 2024 | |
Equatorial Guinea Togo | 2 2 |
| Friday 11 October 2024 | |
Equatorial Guinea Liberia | 1 0 |
| Monday 14 October 2024 | |
| Liberia Equatorial Guinea | 1 2 |
| Monday 11 November 2024 | |
| Equatorial Guinea Algeria | 0 0 |
| Tuesday 19 November 2024 | |
| Togo Equatorial Guinea | 3 0 |
| Team | PTS | G | W | D | L | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 16 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | +14 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -3 |
| Togo | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -3 |
| Liberia | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -8 |
Stats
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Luis Asué | 2 |
| 2. | Jannick Buyla | 1 |
| 3. | Iban Salvador | 1 |
| 4. | Dorian Hanza | 1 |
Assists
| Player | Assists | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Luis Asué | 1 |
| 2. | Iban Salvador | 1 |
| 3. | Basilio Ndong | 1 |
Players Rating
| Player | Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Saúl Coco | 7,5 |
| 2. | Basilio Ndong | 7,2 |
| 3. | Jesús Owono | 7,1 |
| 4. | Iban Salvador | 7,1 |
| 5. | Josete Miranda | 7.1 |
| 6. | Luis Asué | 7,1 |
| 7. | Carlos Akapo | 6,9 |
| 8. | Pedro Obiang | 6,9 |
| 9. | José Machín | 6,9 |
| 10. | Omar Mascarell | 6.8 |