Equatorial Guinea failed to cement their place at the top of Group J in their final 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier this week, following their 1-1 draw with Libya at the Martyrs of February Stadium on Wednesday night.
While Jose Elo Ayeto put Equatorial Guinea ahead in the 62nd minute, Husain Taqtaq’s 80th minute equaliser saw the two nations share the spoils in their final Afcon qualifier. Following the result, second-placed Tunisia now have the chance to overtake Equatorial Guinea at the top of Group J, as they prepare to take on Botswana at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in their final Afcon qualifier on Thursday night.
Libya started the game as the more progressive side and held most of the ball during the opening exchanges. Following the early pressure, Libya came close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute, as Abd Al Myaser Bosheba’s header from a corner situation went wide.
Equatorial Guinea opted for an energetic approach in taking the game to Libya and looked to win the ball high up the pitch. However, Libya did well to bypass the high press after getting out of sticky situations on the edge of their 18-yard-area.
National Thunder began dominating play after the 20th minute mark and began carving out goal scoring opportunities in the process. Equatorial Guinea played most of their football inside Libya’s half during this period but failed to make the most of their chances in the final third.
The game reached a tacky period after the half-hour mark, with neither side making any notable progress on an attacking front. However, it was Equatorial Guinea who looked most likely to score despite Libya tipping the ball possession count slightly.
Nonetheless, it was Equatorial Guinea who ended the half as the better side despite the 0-0 scoreline.
Libya looked lively after the restart and went forward with energy and vigor. As a result, the Mediterranean knights put Equatorial Guinea under pressure, especially at set-play situations.
As the hour mark approached, Libya found themselves in an inviting position to open the scoring, as Fahd Mohamed came close for his nation. With the ball played into the area following a free-kick on the right flank, the attacker was met with doggish defending inside the 18-yard-area as he failed to get a grip of the ball.
Nevertheless, it was Equatorial Guinea who took the lead soon after the hour mark as Jose Elo Ayeto got his name on the scoreboard. After a ball was floated into the danger zone from a corner , the defender managed to flick the ball into the back of the net while facing the opposite direction.
In not backing down, the host nation began turning the screws and actively searched for an equalizer after conceding. Their moment eventually came in the 80th minute as Taqtaq Husain added his name to the goal scorer's sheet. With a pin-point cross played into the area from a corner, the lanky attacker’s towering header proved to be too much for Jesus Owono in goal.
While Equatorial Guinea had some joy going forward during the dying stages of the match, Libya sat tight in warding off National Thunder’s attempts. Nevertheless, the score remained at 1-1 untl the final whistle was blown.
Libya: (0) 1 (Husain 80’
Equatorial Guinea: (0) 1 ( Elo Ayeto 62’
Libya: Al Tihar, Al Sareet, Amir, Dawi, Qulaib, Deeja (Al-Shalwi 83’), Alelwani (Al Shremi 44’), Jaddour, Al Qulaib, Mohamed (Husain 63’), Bosheba
Equatorial Guinea: Owono, Ndong, Elo Ayeto, Nsue, Anieboh, Buyla, Balboa, Miranda (Ondo 85’), Eneme (So Lora 91’), Nlavo (Salvador 66’), Hanza (Noe Ela 66’)