Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE are most likely to play Equatorial Guinea in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations back-to-back with the latter deploying a second-choice goalkeeper.
This is because their Number One goalie Jesús Owono could be excused as he is at the centre of the unfortunate circumstances which led to Spain’s Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel’s death on Tuesday.
Owono, who plays for FC Andorra in the Spanish Laliga 2 clashed with Miguel on the field on Monday night after sprinting from his goal line to stop a Tenerife attack.
The 25-year-old appeared to be sticking his knee out and on impact Miguel collapsed to the ground and suffered a cardiac arrest, subsequently breathing his last on Tuesday morning.
Spanish police, as per standard procedure in the European country, opened a manslaughter investigation.
However, reports say Owono will avoid prison with the tragic accident deemed unintentional.
But it’s almost certain that the goalie will not be available for Zimbabwe’s fixtures in Cameroon on November 12 and at the National Sports Stadium four days later.
While reports suggest he will be banned for between eight to twelve Laliga 2 games, Owono is unlikely to face any international ban but his state of mind might not allow him to show up for the Warriors games in Group E.
He is already facing abuse online and yesterday he was forced to deactivate most of his social media handles, including his Instagram which had over 30 000 followers.
Owono has been the one starting for Equatorial Guinea in all their recent matches, including at the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco and the two Group E 2027 AFCON qualifiers against DRC and Sierra Leone.
Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are level on three points after two games and whoever will get the most from the upcoming games will enhance their chances of making the top two of the group and be in a good space to clip the ticket to Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya next year.
Sierra Leone and DRC will be involved in a back-to-back battle of their own.
