Jesus Owono will not be part of Equatorial Guinea’s Owono Equatorial Guinea squad for this month’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the national federation has confirmed, after the goalkeeper asked to be excused following the death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel.
De Miguel, 30, died after sustaining a serious injury in a collision with Owono during a Spanish second division match on Monday. The incident has left the 25-year-old goalkeeper devastated, and he has chosen to step away from international duty for the upcoming double-header against Zimbabwe.
Player's request granted by federation
According to Equatorial Guinea’s football federation (Feguifut), Owono personally requested to be left out of coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese’s squad for the Group E matches. The federation has accepted the request, with Feguifut president Venancio Tomas Micha previously stating that the organisation was offering “all our human and professional backing” to the player.
In a statement issued by his club FC Andorra on Wednesday, Owono described the period as “the most difficult days of my life” and admitted it is “very hard to come to terms with what has happened.” The goalkeeper’s decision to withdraw reflects the emotional toll of the tragedy, which occurred during a league fixture in Spain.
Key player absent for National Thunder
Owono has been Equatorial Guinea’s first-choice goalkeeper since November 2020 and has featured at the past three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He helped the National Thunder reach the quarter-finals of the 2021 edition but was part of the squad that suffered a group-stage exit at the 2025 finals in Morocco.
His absence is a significant blow for Annese’s side as they prepare for two crucial qualifiers. Equatorial Guinea are set to host Zimbabwe in Bata on Thursday, 12 November, before travelling to Harare four days later for the reverse fixture.
Group E standings tightly poised
Both Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe currently sit on three points after two rounds of matches in Group E. DR Congo lead the standings with six points, while Sierra Leone are at the bottom with no points. The back-to-back meetings between the National Thunder and Zimbabwe could prove decisive in the race for qualification.
Owono’s withdrawal adds to the challenges facing the Equatorial Guinea coaching staff, who must now plan without their established number one for these important fixtures. The goalkeeper’s focus remains on dealing with the aftermath of the incident, and his club has publicly supported him during this difficult time.
The football community has been mourning De Miguel, with tributes pouring in for the Tenerife striker. The collision during the Spanish second division match has had far-reaching consequences, and Owono’s decision to prioritise his wellbeing over international duty has been met with understanding from the federation.
Equatorial Guinea will need to regroup quickly as they aim to keep their qualification hopes on track. The matches against Zimbabwe will test the depth of the squad, but the thoughts of many will remain with Owono and the family of De Miguel.
