Equatorial Guinea president declares public holiday, rewards national team with € 1m

EQUATORIAL Guinea’s president, Theodore Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, declared yesterday, January 23, a public holiday in honour of the country’s national team, Nzalang Nationale, who defeated hosts, Cote d’ivoire, in their last Group A game of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

The win made Equatorial Guinea the top team in the group and handed them a second- round berth. For that feat, apart from the public holiday, President Mbasogo also gave the team € 1 million as a token of appreciation for making their country proud.

Against all predictions, the hitherto unheralded Equatorial Guinean team have risen above the pundits’ predictions, drawing 1- 1 with Nigeria, beating Guinea Bissau 4- 2 before Monday’s 4- 0 humiliation of Cote d’ivoire.

President Mbasogo, who watched the game against Cote d’ivoire from his Palacio Presidencial de Malabo ( State House), described the national team as the country’s brightest ambassadors, promising to break the banks if they win the Africa Cup of Nations. To complement the president’s gesture, Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President,

Theodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, offered the team € 200,000 for the four goals they scored against Cote d’ivoire, which is € 50,000 for each goal.

The vice president, who announced through his official X handle that he has spoken to the players, said: “For me, the match against Cote d’ivoire is like a final. That is why I wished them luck and promised to incentivise them with € 50,000 per goal in our favour.”

Equatorial Guinea is gunning to go beyond the semifinals stage, which they achieved when they hosted the championship in 2015.