Nsue net AFCON's maiden hattrick since 2008

Emilio Nsue scores maiden hat trick at AFCON since 2008 | CAF Image

AFCON 2023 Nsue net AFCON's maiden hattrick since 2008

Brian Aheebwa 18:40 - 18.01.2024

The 18 players who have scored hattricks at AFCON

Equatorial Guinea striker and captain Emilio Nsue has entered his name in the history books following his three goals in a 4-2 thumping of Guinea Bissau.

After his heroics at Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on Thursday, the 34-year-old became the first player to score a hattrick at the Africa Cup of Nations since 2008.

Nsue's three goals came in the 21st, 51st, and 61st minutes. The striker is also the oldest player ever to score a hat trick at AFCON and also the first player to score a hat trick for his country.

Morocco's Soufiane Alloudi was the last player to achieve the feat in the Atlas Lions' 5-1 mauling of Namibia in the group stages on January 21 2008, at the tournament played in Ghana.

Equatorial Guinea players celebrate thier huge AFCON win against Guinea Bissau | CAF Image

Josette Miranda netted the Elephants' other goal in the 46th minute.

Equatorial Guinea's Esteban Orozco scored an own goal in the 37th minute, while Ze Turbo was also on target for the Djurtus in the 93rd minute.

The CF Intercity player is now rubbing shoulders with 17 other players who have scored a hat trick at the continent's biggest football showpiece.

Ad-Diba and Benedict McCarthy of Egypt and South Africa are the only players to score four goals in a single AFCON. In contrast, Ivory Coast's Laurent Pokou is the only player who has netted five times in a single AFCON match.

Ad-Diba and McCarthy scored their four goals against Ethiopia and Namibia in 1957 and 1998, while Pokou's five goals came against Ethiopia in 1970.

Hassan El-Shazly of the United Arab Republic is the only player who has managed the feat at two tournaments.

He did it against Nigeria and the Ivory Coast in 1963 and 1970.

Equatorial Guinea now sit at the top of Group A with four points, having drawn 1-1 with Nigeria in their opening game, and similarly, Nsue is the leading goal scorer with three goals.

The only positive Bissau can take from today's game is that they scored more than once at AFCON for the first time in their history.

Pablo Comitre led his Equatorial Guinea teammates through some dance moves | CAF Image

Equatorial Guinea will take on hosts Ivory Coast in their final group-stage game on Sunday, while Guinea Bissau will battle Nigeria on the same day.

The 18 players who have scored hattricks at AFCON

Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea) against Guinea Bissau - 2023

Soufiane Alloudi (Morocco) against Namibia - 2008

Francileudo do Santos (Tunisia) against Zambia - 2006

Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) against Angola - 2006

Patrick Mboma (Cameroon) against Zimbabwe - 2004

Hossam Hassan (Egypt) against Zambia - 1998

Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia) against Sierra Leone - 1996

Joel Tiehi (Ivory Coast) against Sierra Leone - 1994

Bernard Chanda (Zambia) against Congo- Brazzaville - 1974

Hassan El-Shazly (United Arab Republic) against Ivory Coast - 1970

Laurent Pokou (Ivory Coast) against Ethiopia - 1970

Hacene Lalmas (Algeria) against Uganda - 1968

Eustache Mangle (Ivory Coast) against Congo-Leopoldville - 1965

Hassan El-Shazly (United Arab Republic) against Nigeria - 1963

Mohamed Morsi Hussein (United Arab Republic) against Nigeria - 1963

Mahmoud El-Gohary (United Arab Republic) against Ethiopia - 1959

Ad-Diba (Egypt) against Ethiopia - 1957