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UNDER SIEGE . . . Mauritian referee Seechurn Rajindraparsad (left) is whisked away from angry Tunisian players soon after the Carthage Eagles’ extra time defeat on Saturday night. — (Picture by John Manzongo in Malabo)

Makomborero Mutimukulu in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
EQUATORIAL GUINEA are in pure football heaven.
The hosts’ controversial 2-1 victory over Tunisia on Saturday night saw them storm into the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations for the first time.

Tunisia are livid and in real mess.

Several of the Tunisian players now face disciplinary action after they attacked Mauritian referee Seechurn Rajindraparsad soon after their extra time defeat.

The Carthage Eagles accused Rajindraparsad of diabolic officiating in a match which saw former Real Madrid winger Javier Balboa strike twice — from the penalty spot and a free-kick — as Equatorial Guinea came from behind to snatch a sensational win.

Ahmed Kaichi had given Tunisia the lead on 70 minutes.

“In my 15 years as a player and 30 years as a coach I have never seen anything like that. Today’s result was forced,” charged Tunisian coach George Leekens in the post match press conference.

The Tunisian tears did not stop the party in this small but oil rich nation.

Equatorial Guinea did not expect to feature at the 30th Nations Cup after being disqualified for using an eligible player during the qualifiers.

When their leader President Theodore Obiang Nguema Mbasogo saved the continent’s blushes by accepting to host this year’s tournament after Morocco’s comical withdrawal Nzalang Nacionale were in shambles.

The coach was fired a fortnight before the tourney began with the women’s national team gaffer being asked to step in.

The new coach wasn’t a popular choice given that Stephen Keshi had been sounded out for the job.

He had a battalion of critics.

It is funny how life changes.

Esteban Becker’s name was sung from Ebebyin to Malabo, from the plush Café Malabo to the cardboard box made taverns in the outskirts of the capital, as a nation rose in unison to salute its football heroes.

In this part of the world there is San Miguel and others.

When they are sad they drink San Miguel, when they are happy they drink it too but in large volumes.

On Saturday night some outlets ran out of Equatorial Guinea’s favourite beer, which costs 500 CFA Francs in bars and 4000 CFA Francs in up market nightclubs.

A United States dollar gets you 500 CFA Francs in the streets.

When Zambia won the AFCON gong in 2012 ladies doing business in the world’s oldest profession reportedly offered their wares for free.

It wasn’t the case here.

It was time to cash in.

The average price of sex, if that’s what we may call it, rose from 10 000 CFA Francs to 15 000 CFA Francs.

“Business is business. Why hasn’t the price of beer been reduced? Yes I am happy but life has to go on . . . I have children to feed,” said one woman speaking with the aid of a translator.

Jesus Nsue Sagario was one of several hundreds of Equatorial Guineans who stormed the streets of Malabo soon after the referee blew the final whistle to confirm the hosts’ passage into the last four.

Sagario reckons God loves his country and had a hand in the soft stoppage time penalty that thrust Equatorial Guinea back into the game.

“Poko poko English ( Small, small my English,” he said apologetically before going on to give The Herald an emotional interview that draws heavily on the sentimental.

“God loves this country, this is reward for us accepting to host the tourney at a time when no other African country wanted to do so. Yes you ask about the penalty but these things happen in the game. Some decisions are more controversial than others.

“Tunisia had their chances and didn’t take them, we had ours and we took them. Now we are in the semi-finals, God is good.”

As his men were touted as heroes Becker played it cool.

“Yes we celebrate but we still have a job to do. Let’s keep working and see how far we will go,” he said.