Equatorial Guinea–Tunisia football rivalry
 Equatorial Guinea v Tunisia match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification. | |
| Teams | |
|---|---|
| First meeting | 2 June 2012 2014 WC qualification Tunisia 3–1 Equatorial Guinea |
| Latest meeting | 5 June 2024 2026 WC qualification Tunisia 1–0 Equatorial Guinea |
| Next meeting | September 2025 2026 WC qualification |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 10 |
| All-time series | Equatorial Guinea: 3 Draw: 1 Tunisia: 6 |
| Largest victory | 2 June 2022 Tunisia 4–0 Equatorial Guinea 2023 AFCON qualification |
The rivalry between Equatorial Guinea and Tunisia is unique over the fact that these meetings are more recent and used to be regarded as unimportant, but the root fueling this rivalry occurred during the quarter-finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, in which the Tunisians got a string of unfair decisions from the referee,[1] which caused the team to lose to the Equatorial Guinean hosts 2–1. This fueled widespread rage and anger among Tunisian players and fans.[2]
Ever since, Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea have found themselves surprisingly in confrontation of numerous recent tournament qualification matches, starting with the 2021 AFCON qualification where Tunisia won both fixtures, albeit by a one-goal margin. However, despite Tunisia's domination, Equatorial Guinea have proven to be increasingly stern in later qualifying matches, having managed to defeat Tunisia at home in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification and the 2023 AFCON qualification.[3] The two teams are currently competing in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification. The two teams have never played friendly matches.
The overall record is clearly favorable for the Tunisians as they have won 6 matches while Equatorial Guinea has won 3 matches with only one match ending in a draw.[4]
History[edit]
The rivalry between the national teams of Equatorial Guinea and Tunisia in football is a recent rivalry. Until 2012, the two teams never met, and their first match was on 2 June 2012, where Tunisia won 3–1 in the group B matches of the second round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.[5] The second leg match ended in a 1–1 draw.[6]
On 31 January 2015, the two teams faced off in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Bata, hosted by Equatorial Guinea. Tunisia took the lead in the 70th minute, when Ahmed Akaïchi flicked in Hamza Mathlouthi's cross from the right. Equatorial Guinea scored the equalizer in the third minute of injury time through Javier Balboa's penalty, which was awarded after Hamza Mathlouthi was ruled to have fouled Iván Bolado. The match went to extra time, and Balboa scored the winning goal in the 102nd minute with a direct free kick, sending the hosts to their first ever semi-finals.[7][8] The match had witnessed controversies regarding the Mauritian referee's bias refereeing in favor to the host nation, including the controversial penalty in the final minutes, resulting with Tunisian players attacking him in the end of the game. CAF decided to ban the referee for life as for the result.[9]
Since then, the two teams have met in Group J for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, where Tunisia win both legs 1–0 in Malabo and 2–1 in Tunis.[10][11] However, both teams qualified for the finals. The draw for the second round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification placed the two teams next to each other in Group B for the second round. The Eagles of Carthage prevailed in the first leg 3–0,[12] while the Nzalang Nacional won in the second leg 1–0.[13] However, Tunisia won on the final day to lead the group and advance to the third round, where it qualified for the World Cup after winning over Mali.
In the same period, the two teams faced off in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification for the second time in a row, and the draw placed them in Group J like the previous time. On 2 June 2022, in the first match, Tunisia recorded its widest victory since the beginning of the rivalry, with a 4–0 victory in Tunis,[14] while Equatorial Guinea won 1–0 in the second match in Malabo,[15] and yet both teams qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification was held on 13 July 2023,[16] and resulted in the two teams falling again, this time in Group H.[17] Equatorial Guinea was affected by the deletion of 6 points from the score of the team that won the two matches due to the inclusion of Emilio Nsue, who was not eligible to play.[18][19] Tunisia won the first leg 1–0 with a goal by Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane from a penalty kick.[20][21] The second leg is scheduled to be played in September 2025.[22]
Matches[edit]
List of matches[edit]
Matches details[edit]
| 2 June 2012 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification | Tunisia  | 3–1 |  Equatorial Guinea | Monastir, Tunisia |
| 18:00 UTC+1 | Report | Randy  34' |
Stadium: Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria) |
| 16 June 2013 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification | Equatorial Guinea | 1–1 | Tunisia | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
| 17:00 UTC+1 | Juvenal 36' (pen.) |
Report | Darragi 64' (pen.) |
Stadium: Estadio de Malabo Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Bernard Camille (Seychelles) |
| 31 January 2015 2015 Africa Cup of Nations | Tunisia | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Equatorial Guinea | Bata, Equatorial Guinea |
| 20:30 UTC+1 | Akaïchi 70' |
Report | Balboa 90+3' (pen.), 102' |
Stadium: Estadio de Bata Attendance: 41,000 Referee: Rajindraparsad Seechurn (Mauritius) |
| 19 November 2019 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Equatorial Guinea | 0–1 | Tunisia | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
| 20:00 UTC+1 | Report |
|
Stadium: Estadio de Malabo Referee: Mohamed Athoumani (Comoros) |
| 28 March 2021 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Tunisia | 2–1 | Equatorial Guinea | Tunis, Tunisia |
| 14:00 UTC+1 | Report | Stadium: Hammadi Agrebi Stadium Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala (Congo DR) |
| 3 September 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | Tunisia | 3–0 | Equatorial Guinea | Tunis, Tunisia |
| 20:00 UTC+1 | Report | Stadium: Hammadi Agrebi Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Daniel Laryea Nii Ayi (Ghana) |
| 13 November 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | Equatorial Guinea | 1–0 | Tunisia | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
| 17:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report | Stadium: Estadio de Malabo Attendance: 500 Referee: Boubou Traoré (Mali) |
| 2 June 2022 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Tunisia | 4–0 | Equatorial Guinea | Tunis, Tunisia |
| 20:00 UTC+1 | Report | Stadium: Hammadi Agrebi Stadium Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi) |
| 17 June 2023 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Equatorial Guinea | 1–0 | Tunisia | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
| 16:00 UTC+1 | Report | Stadium: Estadio de Malabo Referee: Ibrahim Kalilou Traore (Ivory Coast) |
| 5 June 2024 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Tunisia | 1–0 | Equatorial Guinea | Tunis, Tunisia |
| 20:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report | Stadium: Hammadi Agrebi Stadium Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa) |
| September 2025 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Equatorial Guinea | v | Tunisia | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
| --:-- UTC+1 | Stadium: Estadio de Malabo |
Statistics[edit]
- As of 5 June 2024
Overall record[edit]
| Competition | Matches | Equatorial Guinea Wins |
Draws | Tunisia Wins | Equatorial Guinea Goals |
Tunisia Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa Cup of Nations | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| FIFA World Cup qualification | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Africa Cup of Nations qualification | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| Total | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
All-time top goalscorers[edit]
|
|
Controversies[edit]
2015 Afcon quarter-final[edit]
Wadie Jary, the president of the Tunisian Football Federation, claimed that there was a bias against Tunisia following their controversial quarter-final defeat to Equatorial Guinea on 31 January 2015. He was banned from CAF competitions and activities.[43] Rajindraparsad Seechurn, the Mauritian referee who gave a penalty to Equatorial Guinea in that match, was banned from officiating for six months and removed from CAF's elite register of referees.[44] The Tunisian FA was fined $50,000 for confronting the referee during the match, in addition to damage to changing room facilities, while Equatorial Guinea was fined $5,000 for inadequate security at the stadium.[44]
References[edit]
- ↑ Press, Associated (2015-01-31). "Equatorial Guinea reach semi-finals after late penalty enrages Tunisia". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ Press, Associated (2015-01-31). "Equatorial Guinea reach semi-finals after late penalty enrages Tunisia". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ "equatorial-guinea-stun-tunisia-to-clinch-totalenergies-afcon-ticket-morocco-defe". equatorial-guinea-stun-tunisia-to-clinch-totalenergies-afcon-ticket-morocco-defe. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ "Equatorial Guinea v Tunisia Head to head". 11v11. 9 June 2024.
- ↑ "Tunisie vs. Guinée Équatoriale - 2 juin 2012 - Soccerway". fr.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Guinée Équatoriale vs. Tunisie - 16 juin 2013 - Soccerway". fr.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "BBC Sport – Tunisia 1-2 Equatorial Guinea". BBC Sport. 31 January 2015.
- ↑ "Tunisia – Equatorial Guinea". Youtube. 31 January 2015.
- ↑ "Africa Cup of Nations referee banned for controversial Equatorial Guinea penalty". 3 February 2015.
- ↑ "Guinée Équatoriale vs. Tunisie - 19 novembre 2019 - Soccerway". fr.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Tunisie vs. Guinée Équatoriale - 28 mars 2021 - Soccerway". fr.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Tunisie vs. Guinée Équatoriale - 3 septembre 2021 - Soccerway". fr.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Guinée Équatoriale vs. Tunisie - 13 novembre 2021 - Soccerway". fr.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Tunisie vs. Guinée Équatoriale - 2 juin 2022 - Soccerway". fr.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Guinée Équatoriale vs. Tunisie - 17 juin 2023 - Soccerway". fr.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ Olsson, Andrew (4 July 2023). "Learn all about 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying in the CAF region and the seeds". Pan-Africa Football. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "FIFA World Cup 2026 African Qualifiers Official Draw on 13 July". cafonline. CAF. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ↑ "FIFA ruling shows AFCON star Emilio Nsue was ineligible for entire career with Equatorial Guinea". AP News. 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ Rombe, Diario (2024-05-27). "CNEDOGE emitió un pasaporte en fraude de Ley, según el cuál, Emilio Nsue López nació en Malabo y no en Palma de Mallorca" [CNEDOGE issued a passport in fraud of Law, according to which, Emilio Nsue López was born in Malabo and not in Palma de Mallorca]. Diario Rombe - Información de calidad sobre Guinea Ecuatorial (in español). Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Tunisie vs. Guinée Équatoriale - 5 juin 2024 - Soccerway". fr.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Penalty hands Tunisia victory as Africa's World Cup qualifiers resume". sportstar.thehindu.com. 2024-06-06. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
- ↑ "Guinée Équatoriale vs. Tunisie - 8 septembre 2025 - Soccerway". fr.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Tunisia - Equatorial Guinea livescores result World cup 2 jun 2012". www.fctables.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Match Report of Tunisia vs Equatorial Guinea - 2012-06-02 - WC Qualification - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ "Equatorial Guinea - Tunisia livescores result World cup 16 jun 2013". www.fctables.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Match Report of Equatorial Guinea vs Tunisia - 2013-06-16 - WC Qualification - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ "Tunisia - Equatorial Guinea livescores result Africa Cup of Nations 31 jan 2015". www.fctables.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Match Report of Tunisia vs Equatorial Guinea". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ "Equatorial Guinea - Tunisia livescores result Africa Cup of Nations 19 nov 2019". www.fctables.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Match Report of Equatorial Guinea vs Tunisia - 2019-11-19 - TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Qualification - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ "Tunisia - Equatorial Guinea livescores result Africa Cup of Nations 28 mar 2021". www.fctables.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Match Report of Tunisia vs Equatorial Guinea - 2021-03-28 - TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Qualification - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ "Tunisia - Equatorial Guinea livescores result World cup 3 sep 2021". www.fctables.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Match Report of Tunisia vs Equatorial Guinea - 2021-09-03 - WC Qualification - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ "Equatorial Guinea - Tunisia livescores result World cup 13 nov 2021". www.fctables.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Match Report of Equatorial Guinea vs Tunisia - 2021-11-13 - WC Qualification - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ "Tunisia - Equatorial Guinea livescores result Africa Cup of Nations 2 jun 2022". www.fctables.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Match Report of Tunisia vs Equatorial Guinea - 2022-06-02 - TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Qualification - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Tunisia - Equatorial Guinea livescores result World Cup Qualification Africa 5 jun 2024". www.fctables.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ↑ "Match Report of Equatorial Guinea vs Tunisia - 2023-06-17 - TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Qualification - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 "Match Report of Tunisia vs Equatorial Guinea - 2024-06-05 - WC Qualification - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ "Match Report of Equatorial Guinea vs Tunisia - 2025-09-08 - WC Qualification - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ↑ "SUSPENSION OF THE PRESIDENT AND ULTIMATUM FOR TUNISIAN FEDERATION". CAF. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 "Africa Cup of Nations: Referee banned for six months". BBC Sport. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
External links[edit]
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