FIFA clears Emilio Nsue to play for Equatorial Guinea

FIFA has officially cleared Emilio Nsue, Equatorial Guinea’s record goalscorer, to play for the country after a decade-long eligibility dispute.

This decision comes after a successful appeal by the Equatorial Guinean Football Federation, ending a period of uncertainty that began when FIFA initially deemed Nsue ineligible in May 2024.

Football’s governing body declared Nsue, now 35, ineligible to participate in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, citing that he had never received proper clearance to formalize his switch from Spain.

FIFA’s initial ruling left many stunned, especially given that Nsue had played 43 matches for Equatorial Guinea since his debut in 2013, scoring a record 22 goals and even winning the golden boot at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

However, last week, FIFA approved a second request by Equatorial Guinea’s football federation, granting Nsue clearance to continue representing the country. This approval comes 12 years after the federation’s first attempt to resolve the issue.