As Equatorial Guinea prepares for its fourth appearance in the final phase of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast in 2024, Nzalang Nacional is set to engage in a friendly preparation match against Djibouti, marking a crucial step in their journey to the 34th edition of the tournament.
Originally slated to face Cameroon on January 8 in a preparatory match for AFCON 2023, the Equatorial Guinean selection faced a sudden change in plans as the Cameroonian Football Federation announced the cancellation of the scheduled fixture.
In a letter addressed to FEGUIFUT, FECAFOOT cited the stringent training schedule proposed by the manager and selector of the Indomitable Lions as the reason for the cancellation, necessitating Equatorial Guinea to recalibrate its preparations.
Recent reports indicate that the Equatoguinean national team will now face Djibouti in their preparation match on January 9, 2024.
The match is scheduled to take place during the team’s preparation camp in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. Five days following this friendly encounter, Juan Micha Obiang’s men will make their debut in AFCON 2023 against Nigeria in Group A, followed by matches against Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.
Equatorial Guinea’s coach, Juan Micha Obiang, unveiled the provisional list of 27 players on the morning of Sunday, December 31, 2023.
Despite this preliminary announcement, Coach Obiang noted that the squad may undergo modifications before the final submission to the Confederation of African Football.
As anticipation builds for Equatorial Guinea’s campaign in AFCON 2023, the friendly against Djibouti serves as a crucial opportunity for the team to fine-tune their strategies and solidify their cohesion ahead of the continental showdown.
