For the second time, Equatorial Guinea is forced to forfeit two World Cup qualification matches due to the ineligibility of their star player, Emilio Nsue.
FIFA announced on Friday that it has rescinded the two victories achieved by the Nzalang Nacional in the opening rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This decision follows ongoing conflicts between the players and the national federation.
In addition to the forfeiture of the matches, FIFA has imposed a fine of €151,000 on the Equatoguinean Football Federation and has banned Emilio Nsue from all professional football activities for the next six months. The affected parties have ten days to appeal these sanctions.
As a result of these penalties, Equatorial Guinea has fallen to the bottom of their qualification group, comprising six teams vying for a spot in the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA regulations stipulate that players can claim national eligibility if they or a close relative were born in the country, or if they have resided there for at least five years. FIFA judges, however, concluded that Emilio Nsue does not meet these eligibility criteria, although they did not provide further details.
This ruling underscores the importance of compliance with FIFA’s eligibility rules and serves as a stark reminder to federations and players of the consequences of non-compliance.