CAN 2022 - Equatorial Guinea: "We have made history"

Rodolfo Bodipo in a lounge at the Akwa hotel in Douala.

January 17, 2022. © RFI/Ndiassé SAMBE

Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow

3 mins

Rodolfo Bodipo, legend of Equatorial Guinean football, returned to the resounding exploit of Nzalang against Algeria (1-0) Sunday January 16 at CAN 2022. For the former striker and captain, now Director General of Youth and sport, “ 

 ” players have achieved “ 

”.

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From our special correspondent in Douala (with Fabien Essiane)

RFI: Bodipo, the day after Equatorial Guinea's victory, how do you feel?

Rodolfo Bodipo

I feel good.

I am very happy and proud of the players of the selection because they have achieved something impossible;

, Algeria.

Especially since this team was 35 games unbeaten.

It was a wonderful evening, a moment that all of Equatorial Guinea was waiting for.

Through this victory, we made history.

And we are more and more motivated to go far in this completion.

► 

Where do you place this feat in the history of Equatorial Guinean football, which has already had a semi-final in 2015 at home?

The first feat is to take part in the CAN after qualifying on the ground (

).

Yesterday's victory (Sunday January 16, 2022) makes the whole country dream.

It is a very important victory for the history of Equatoguinean football.

One of the most beautiful.

You have to savor it and keep the same momentum and above all the same enthusiasm for the match against Sierra Leone

You who have known everything with Equatorial Guinea, player, captain coach, etc., how do you explain the evolution of the team which started practically from nowhere, barely 10 years ago?

Since my debut within the selection in 2003, I have noticed that there has been a clear evolution and especially in terms of sports infrastructure because the President of the Republic has invested a lot of money for this.

We are a small country and a team considered as a small thumb, but we are working to develop football in our country.

I hope that through this CAN, young Equatoguineans will get more and more involved in sport and football from now on.

“We know where we come from and who we are”

As a legend of Equatorial Guinean football, what do you say to the young people who took over from you in the national team?

To the players, I told them not to put pressure on themselves, that they play their football, that they have fun.

They are privileged because very few footballers experience this kind of competition.

May they have the pride of Equatoguineans since they are the pride of the country.

I told them that there is more to gain than to lose against Algeria.

Thanks be to God, victory was on our side.

They received congratulations from legendary players like Rigobert Song and Samuel Eto'o for their courage

So when we beat the African champion, we can legitimately claim the coronation, right?

(Laughs).

We came to play to win games.

On Sunday, something unforgettable and important happened, but that is already in the past.

Let's look forward.

With Sierra Leone, we must not fall into the trap of overconfidence.

We know where we come from and who we are.

This AFCON has once again shown us the laws of football;

how a small team can get the better of a big team.

What is certain is that we are not here on vacation.  

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