AFCON 2015: Esteban Becker Appointed Head Coach of Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea has named Esteban Becker as the new head coach of its national football team, just two weeks ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will host from January 17 to February 8.
Becker, a 50-year-old Argentine, replaces Spaniard Andoni Goikoetxea, whose contract expired on December 31 and was not renewed by the newly appointed president of the Equatorial Guinean Football Federation (Feguifut).
The appointment marks a significant promotion for Becker, who previously coached Equatorial Guinea’s women’s national team, leading them to victory in the 2012 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Now, he takes on the immense challenge of guiding the Nzalang Nacional’s men’s squad in a major continental tournament with minimal preparation time.
His task is far from easy. Equatorial Guinea’s preparations for the tournament have been plagued by instability, poor friendly results, and the late change in technical leadership. The team is currently in training camp in Portugal, where it has already suffered two defeats — including one to a fourth-tier Portuguese side.
Becker will lead his new team into a tough Group A, where Equatorial Guinea will face Congo, Gabon, and 2013 runners-up Burkina Faso. Despite the odds, the Argentine is being counted on to bring stability and rally a team that has yet to finalize its squad selection for the tournament.
The decision to appoint Becker is being viewed by many observers as a practical one. His familiarity with the country’s football landscape and prior success with the women’s side make him a safe pair of hands — even under such pressing circumstances.
Equatorial Guinea’s journey in this year’s AFCON will begin on home soil, but with challenges mounting, Esteban Becker has only days to instill a sense of purpose and direction in a squad still struggling for cohesion. The football world will be watching closely to see if the new coach can defy expectations and spark a successful campaign against the backdrop of chaos.
