Africa

Equatorial Guinea’s Javier Balboa: We don't want to face Cote d’Ivoire soon

The former Real Madrid winger says his side doesn’t want to meet the Elephants in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations to avoid early uncertainty.

Jan 29, 2012 2:45:00 PM

By Kingsley Kobo

More On : Equatorial Guinea, Javier Balboa

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Javier Balboa (Equatorial Guinea) vs Steven Pienaar (South Africa)

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LIBREVILLE - After winning its first two matches at the ongoing 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and booking a place in the quarterfinals, host team Equatorial Guinea no longer sees itself as a minnow of the showpiece. The team's initial objective of playing for experience has been reviewed and changed to winning and progressing as far as possible.

But the home side might fall on the path of the continent’s number one team and favorite of the competition – Cote d’Ivoire - which former Real Madrid striker Javier Balboa, who scored the Nzalang Nacional’s first goal of the tournament, says must be avoided to keep the team’s future bright at the 2012 AFCON.

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Equatorial Guinea is in Group A, while Cote d’Ivoire is in Group B. The two teams will not meet in the quarterfinals if each finishes first in their respective groups. But if the central Africans, who are leading with six points, are toppled to second position by the end of the preliminaries and if the Ivorians remain on top, a clash will be inevitable, and Balboa says it’s their greatest fear at the moment.

“We have built some confidence across our two successful games and spirits are high, but nobody in the outfit wants to meet Cote d’Ivoire at this level. Maybe later, in the semis or final,” Balboa told Goal.com.

“Not that we can’t play the Elephants, but their status as a star-studded team is very formidable. We have raised very high hopes across our little country. What many never expected the Nzalang Nacional to do, they are doing wonderfully.

"So it’d be morally catastrophic if we are wiped out in the quarterfinals by Cote d’Ivoire. Many hearts will be broken. Fans are expecting us to move forth as far as possible, to the semifinal and even the final. Avoiding Cote d’Ivoire by finishing first will be sage.”

When asked if he had ever envisioned a final between the two host countries, the 26-year-old Spanish-born star, who now plays for Portuguese side Sport Clube Beira-Mar, smiled and confessed that it is everybody’s dream in Equatorial Guinea.

“Nobody here wants the trophy to leave the sub-region. We want it to stay either here or in Gabon. We are sister countries and we are motivating each other at the 2012 AFCON. If we both are to play the final on Feb. 12, it would be the greatest dream come true in the lives of the populations of both countries,” he said.

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