Equatorial Guinea: Zarandona threatened by federation after accusations

Former Equatorial Guinea national team midfielder Benjamín Zarandona apologized to the Equatoguinean Football Federation (FEGUIFOOT) after accusations of fund misappropiations earlier this week.

The former midfielder, one of many Spanish-born players with Equatoguinean roots who elected to represent the Nzalang Nacional, made explosive allegations about FEGUIFOOT’s financial practices and lack of professionalism in his role as a commentator for Spanish outlet Cadena SER. In the Madrid-based radio network’s discussion show, El Larguero, Zarandona did not hold back while in a discussion that also included Nzalang captain Carlos Akapo:

“The Africa Cup of Nations brings in money, there’s the World Cup, money comes in. But then they don’t pay, they don’t pay the players, they don’t pay salaries, and they’re always haggling.”

Zarandona referenced a specific moment during 2026 World Cup qualifying when Equatorial Guinea traveled to face Malawi, a match that ended in a forfeit defeat for the Nzalang because the players and staff refused to board a chartered flight that would have arrived in Malawi on the day of the match:

“Everyone can think what they want, but they don’t spend the night in Malawi…in other places. Where does that money go? If it’s (the money allocated for travel) already been released, I’ll leave you with the question. That’s the reality. It’s a sad thing.”

The former Real Valladolid and Real Betis player made over 250 appearances in LaLiga and 10 appearances for Equatorial Guinea after previously winning the 1998 Euro U-21 championship with Spain. Going further, Zarandona attacked the professionalism of FEGUIFOOT and advocated for better preparation and accomodation for Nzalang Nacional players:

“These players, the players of the national team, have made us enjoy all these past Africa Cup of Nations. It’s the match against Ivory Coast (at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations that Ivory Coast hosted and eventually won), a team composed mostly of players who play in the Europa League and Champions League, and they beat them 4-0 in Ivory Coast…we enjoyed it.”

“And the federation doesn’t care. All they care about is how much money is being made, how much money the television stations are making but then they don’t fix anything at all and it’s shameful. What they (the national team players) are asking for are normal conditions. Like a normal selection process, that they travel beforehand, that they sleep, that they rest, that they play.”

Zarandona was not done, going on to reference another notable incident that cost Equatorial Guinea dearly in 2026 World Cup qualifying. Top scorer Emilio Nsue was banned from playing for the Nzalang by FIFA in May 2024, who declared that he was never eligible to represent the nation and that he used a fraudulent passport that changed his place of birth to the African nation’s capital of Malabo.

However, after the two qualifying matches that Nsue played in were declared forfeit defeats, the forward was permitted to play for Equatorial Guinea after filing for a change of international allegiance. Zarandona condemned FEGUIFOOT for not taking any legal action against FIFA to fight for the return of the six points lost from those two games, which both initially ended in victories and resulted in a devastating blow to their hopes of qualifying for a first-ever World Cup:

“And we didn’t have the opportunity to go to the World Cup because then they (FEGUIFOOT) don’t win a single lawsuit. They don’t win a single case. Those six points have not returned, they have not fought, they have not won a single lawsuit in the last 13, 14 years and that is for a reason…in short, a real disaster.”

Zarandona’s comments over the weekend caused an uproar. FEGUIFOOT responded in force with acting president Venancio Tomás Ndong Michá calling a press conference to respond to the accusations. An official statement demanded an apology from the former player with a threat of legal action if the apology did not arrive within 48 hours.

The now 49-year-old former midfielder obliged, retracting his comments on a subsequent appearance on the same program: “I want to take this opportunity to retract the statements I made against the Equatorial Guinean federation and its president. I had implied that money might have been taken from the trip to Malawi. I officially want to apologize to the federation and the president of Equatorial Guinea, because I have not been able to justify my statements.”

However true the accusations from Zarandona are, it is clear that there is a crisis in the Equatorial Guinea national team, which squandered a good opportunity to qualify for their first-ever World Cup. The forfeit defeat against Malawi in October resulted in the suspension and eventual sacking of head coach Juan Micha after the long-time manager stood up for his players. Zarandona may have reluctantly backed off his statements, but where there is smoke, there is fire.