Equatorial Guinea have left their first-choice goalkeeper Jesus Owono out of the squad for this month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, as the 25-year-old continues to grieve following the death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel.
The Equatoguinean Football Federation confirmed on Thursday, in a decision reported by Reuters, that Owono will not be involved in the two qualifiers against Zimbabwe on November 12 and 16. Owono has been his country's first choice since he was a teenager, has won 47 caps and played at the last three Africa Cup of Nations finals, including in goal for the opening two qualifiers for the 2027 finals in September.
A Collision That Changed Everything
Owono and De Miguel collided in stoppage time of Monday's Spanish second division match between FC Andorra and CD Tenerife. The goalkeeper raced out of his area towards the halfway line to clear a long ball and struck the striker in the chest with his knee. Owono was shown a straight red card, the match was abandoned at 2-2, and De Miguel — who had suffered a cardiac arrest — was taken to intensive care.
The 30-year-old's condition deteriorated overnight and Tenerife announced on Tuesday morning that he had died. Spanish police have opened a routine investigation, standard under Spanish law when a death is considered non-natural, and the chief prosecutor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has said criminal proceedings are "very unlikely". BTFW reported De Miguel's death earlier this week, and a minute's silence is being held before matches across Europe in his memory.
"The Most Difficult Days of My Life"
Owono broke his silence in a statement issued through Andorra on Wednesday. "These are the most difficult days of my life," he said. "I struggle to find the words, and I find it very hard to process what has happened. I know there will be many questions to address, and I will face whatever comes with the utmost respect. But right now, honestly, I cannot think about anything other than Jesus and the pain we are experiencing. Rest in peace, Jesus."
The goalkeeper deactivated his Instagram account on Tuesday after receiving abuse online, with some users calling him a murderer. His Andorra team-mate Lautaro Spatz defended him publicly, as reported by Sky Sports, insisting Owono would never intend to hurt a fellow player. The Equatoguinean federation had already expressed its support on Tuesday, saying Owono was experiencing profound sorrow and grief — and leaving him out of this month's squad is the practical form that support now takes.
So What: Time, Not Football, Comes First
For Equatorial Guinea, the sporting cost is real: they lose their established number one for a double-header that will shape their qualifying campaign, and a replacement who has waited in Owono's shadow must now start two competitive internationals at short notice. But no qualifying match outweighs what Owono is carrying, and the federation's decision removes any pressure on him to perform normality in public while he is grieving.
What remains unresolved sits in Spain. The Spanish federation's disciplinary process over the red card is still to come, with reports in Spain suggesting a ban of several matches is possible, and the routine police investigation continues. None of that, however, should be confused with a finding of blame: the prosecutor has already stressed how unlikely criminal proceedings are, and everyone closest to the incident — including De Miguel's own football community, which has gathered in mourning at Tenerife's stadium — has treated this as the tragedy it is.
Beyond the Final Whistle: This is one of the most human decisions a federation can make. Equatorial Guinea could have named Owono, let him decide, and called that support. Instead they decided for him — taking two international matches off the table so a 25-year-old who is living, in his own words, the most difficult days of his life does not have to stand in goal and pretend otherwise. Football talks endlessly about protecting players. This week, quietly, a small federation actually did it.
Should football do more to give players time and support after tragedies like this? Have your say in the comments.
