AFCON 2015: Equatorial Guinea Stuns Gabon to Reach Quarter-Finals – “A Cinderella Story,” Says Coach Becker
What a night in Bata! In one of the most remarkable stories of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, host nation Equatorial Guinea has clinched a spot in the quarter-finals after defeating Gabon 2-0. A result few dared to predict before the tournament began, it’s a stunning achievement for a team that was only called up to host and participate after Morocco’s withdrawal.
Coach Esteban Becker, the architect behind this historic feat, was emotional after the game:
“It’s a Cinderella story—the poor team beats the rich team with its own merit, sacrifice, commitment, pride, and passion. We started with this group exactly twenty days ago in Madrid, then we went to Lisbon. We established a base and a style of play with optimism. We were convinced in every training session that we could go far. To be in the top 8 in Africa, for such a small nation, is an honor.”
Equatorial Guinea, often considered tournament underdogs, played with heart and intelligence to overcome the more experienced Gabonese side. A penalty from Javier Balboa and a late goal from Edu Salvador sealed the victory.
Midfielder Juvenal, another key figure in the team’s run, emphasized the importance of belief and discipline:
“Gabon’s players are well-known, they play for big teams in Europe. It was important for us to reach halftime with the score level, to give ourselves a chance. Gabon has a lot of quality—but so do we. We approached all three matches the same way, against supposedly superior opponents, with conviction and humility. And we reduced the gap. Today we’ll savor this qualification with our supporters and our people, and from Monday we’ll start preparing for the quarter-finals.”
With passion, resilience, and unity, Nzalang Nacional continues to defy expectations. Their fairy tale continues in the knockout stage—and Africa is watching.
