Liberia fight back to draw in Malabo as Equatorial Guinea’s turmoil deepens

Liberia battled from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on Monday, capping their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a resilient performance against a host side in disarray.

The home team, already rocked by internal chaos before kickoff, had dominated the first half and appeared on course for victory when Federico Bikoro pounced on a loose ball inside the box to open the scoring with a tidy left-footed finish.

The Nzalang Nacional continued to press, with Jose Nabil’s curling free-kick crashing against the crossbar, but their wastefulness would later prove costly.

Against the run of play, Liberia drew level through Nicholas Andrews, who latched onto a fine pass from Divine Teah before gliding past a hesitant defender and drilling a low strike beyond goalkeeper Manuel Sapunga at the near post.

The equaliser sealed a spirited result for the Lone Stars, who end their qualifying campaign with pride despite falling short of World Cup contention.

Equatorial Guinea’s preparations for the match were overshadowed by upheaval after the football federation dismissed head coach Juan Micha and expelled several key players, including captain Emilio Nsue.

The fallout followed a players’ strike over pay and poor conditions that led to the team’s failure to travel for their earlier qualifier against Malawi.

A hastily assembled squad led by interim coach Casto Nopo took the field in Malabo, missing many of the stars who had inspired Equatorial Guinea’s historic 4-0 win over Ivory Coast and a 1-1 draw with Nigeria at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite their earlier Cup of Nations heroics, the Nzalang Nacional end their World Cup qualifying campaign mired in controversy, while Liberia depart with renewed confidence ahead of future continental assignments.