Jesus Owono withdraws from Equatorial Guinea squad after Jesus de Miguel's death

Jesus Owono has asked to be omitted from Equatorial Guinea's squad for this month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers following the death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel. BBC Sport reported that the national federation, Feguifut, confirmed the goalkeeper's request, leaving coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese without his established first choice for the two matches against Zimbabwe.

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Owono, 25, has held that role since November 2020 and played at the past three Afcon tournaments, according to the BBC. Federation president Venancio Tomas Micha had already pledged personal and professional support. Equatorial Guinea host Zimbabwe in Bata on 12 November before travelling to Harare for the return fixture four days later. Both countries have three points from two Group E games; DR Congo lead with six, while Sierra Leone have yet to earn a point.

De Miguel, 30, died after a collision with the FC Andorra goalkeeper during Monday's Spanish second-division match. The Associated Press reported that the forward suffered cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital. The game was abandoned at 2-2. Tenerife subsequently requested the postponement of Saturday's league match at Granada, declared six days of mourning and suspended activities across their first team, women's team and youth sides.

In a statement released through Andorra on Wednesday, Owono described his difficulty processing what had happened and expressed grief for De Miguel and concern for his family. Spanish broadcaster RTVE reported that the goalkeeper also said he would address the questions arising from the incident respectfully, while his immediate thoughts remained with the player and those mourning him.

RTVE also reported that Tenerife had called for sensitivity and respect towards Owono. Separately, the broadcaster's verification team established that an earlier statement circulating on X had not come from the goalkeeper: Andorra told RTVE it was false, and the account carrying it was not his. That distinction separates Wednesday's club-issued message from the unauthenticated material shared after De Miguel's death.

Tributes extended to Tuesday's Champions League fixtures. According to AP, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal did not play the competition's customary anthem before their home matches. A moment of silence was observed at those grounds and elsewhere in Europe, including Old Trafford, where Manchester United faced Roma. Images of De Miguel were displayed inside the stadiums.