AFCON 2015 – Esteban Becker Defends Equatorial Guinea and Dismisses Tunisia’s Complaints
Esteban Becker, the Argentine coach of Equatorial Guinea, has responded bluntly to criticisms following the controversial penalty awarded to his team in the quarter-final against Tunisia. The Carthage Eagles were visibly outraged after referee Seechurn Rajindraparsad awarded a late penalty that allowed the host nation to equalize before eventually winning 2-1 in extra time.
Speaking ahead of Equatorial Guinea’s semi-final clash with Ghana, Becker firmly pushed back on the narrative of favoritism and unfairness:
🗣️ “In extra time, the Tunisians defended with five defenders, four midfielders, and an aggressive style of play. We’re younger than them, and they tried to intimidate us at home. No, no, no, that’s not how fair play and football work.”
When journalists brought up CAF’s sanctions—which included suspensions and fines not only for the referee but also for both Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea—Becker brushed it aside and refocused the conversation on the pitch:
🗣️ “Now, the press must remain sports-oriented and not turn into a celebrity press. If we’re not talking about the game, there’s no point. If we’re talking about whether David Beckham wears clean or dirty underwear… We’re going to talk about football. And football is eleven players against eleven other players. Enough with the off-topic questions, please.”
⚽ Next Match for Equatorial Guinea:
-
Opponent: Ghana
-
Occasion: 2015 AFCON Semi-final
-
Date: Thursday, February 5
-
Venue: Malabo
-
Time: 19:00 GMT
The host nation, despite the growing scrutiny, is determined to focus on football. Esteban Becker’s men hope to write history by reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time ever.
