Emilio Nsue Lopez: ‘The Assassin’ at Côte d’Ivoire 2023

What a time to be Emilio Nsue Lopez! At  34 years and winding down his career at third tier Spanish club CF Intercity in Alicante, Nsue (that’s the name he prefers on his shirt), has taken Côte d’Ivoire 2023 by storm, banging goals with relative ease. 

As Captain of the Equatorial Guinean side, he has caught the eyes with his electrifying runs and scoring techniques.

Now, he’s the top scorer at this edition with five goals so far and more may still come from his boots.

Nsue bagged the tournament’s first hat-trick in 16 years in his country’s 4-2 demolition of Guinea Bissau last Thursday He netted a brace against the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire last night to race upwards as this tournament’s leading scorer ahead of more established marksmen here but playing in top leagues in Europe.

It is fitting to say that Nsue caused Elephants’ virtual elimination in a repeat of their performance when Cote d’Ivoire hosted the competition in 1984. 

They defeated Togo 3-0 in their first match only to lose 1-2 to Egypt and crashed out 0-2 to eventual winners Cameroon who defeated Nigeria to lift the trophy.