Equatorial Guinea in Crisis as Head Coach Resigns Two Weeks Before AFCON 2015
With just 15 days remaining before the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off, host nation Equatorial Guinea finds itself in turmoil. Spanish head coach Andoni Goicoetchea has officially stepped down from his role, adding to the mounting uncertainty surrounding the national team’s preparations for the tournament.
Goicoetchea confirmed his resignation to Radio France Internationale (RFI), citing ongoing instability and lack of support, despite backing from the previous president of the Equatoguinean Football Federation (Feguifut). His decision comes amid growing pressure and a string of poor performances during the team’s training camp in Portugal, where they suffered two defeats — one against Benfica’s B team and another to a Portuguese fourth-division side.
The resignation also follows broader administrative upheaval. Feguifut recently underwent leadership changes, further complicating the team’s already fragile preparations. At this point, Equatorial Guinea remains the only participating country not to have announced a provisional or final squad list for the tournament, a glaring omission for the competition’s host.
Goicoetchea had been in charge of the Nzalang Nacional since March 2013, and his exit leaves the team scrambling for a replacement with little time to spare. The situation has reignited speculation linking former Nigeria manager Stephen Keshi to the post, though many observers view the role as too precarious to attract an experienced figure at such short notice.
Equatorial Guinea was handed hosting duties late in 2014 after Morocco withdrew due to Ebola-related health concerns. The country had earlier been disqualified from the qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player, but was reinstated as host nation. However, what was seen as a reprieve and a chance for redemption is now rapidly turning into a logistical and sporting crisis.
The Nzalang Nacional are in Group A alongside Congo, Burkina Faso, and Gabon. Whether the team can recover from this setback and mount a competitive challenge remains to be seen.
