MALABO, Equatorial Guinea | 5 November 2026
Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesús Owono has been left out of the national squad for the November 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers following the death of Spanish forward Jesús de Miguel.
The two players were involved in a collision during a Spanish second-division match between FC Andorra and CD Tenerife on 2 November. De Miguel was taken to intensive care after the incident but died the following morning, according to reports.
Owono, 25, has been Equatorial Guinea’s first-choice goalkeeper since his teenage years and featured in the country’s opening two qualifying matches in September. He will now miss the upcoming double-header against Zimbabwe.
The first fixture is scheduled for 12 November in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, before the teams meet again in Harare on 16 November
In a statement released on Wednesday, Owono described the period as the most difficult days of his life, saying he was struggling to process what had happened and was thinking about De Miguel and the grief surrounding his death.
The Equatoguinean Football Federation has expressed its support for the goalkeeper, acknowledging the profound sorrow he is experiencing following the tragedy.
Owono also faced online abuse after the incident, with some social media users directing offensive comments at him. He subsequently deactivated his Instagram account, Reuters reported.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the emotional and psychological impact that traumatic events can have on footballers, including those directly involved in on-field emergencies.
For Equatorial Guinea, Owono’s absence is a significant change ahead of two important qualifiers, while the football community continues to mourn De Miguel.
Source: Reuters, 5 November 2026.
