AFCON hosts Ivory Coast on brink of shock early exit after humiliating 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea... meaning four Premier League stars could be returning home early

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Ivory Coast’s AFCON hopes hang in the balance after they suffered a chastening 4-0 defeat against relative minnows Equatorial Guinea.

The host nation were swept aside by one of the tournament’s surprise packages and now depend on other results for qualification.

Ivory Coast, two-time champions, have picked up just three points in as many games and need to be one of the best four third-placed teams – out of six – to qualify from the group stages.

A double from Emilio Nsue and late strikes from Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla left Equatorial Guinea grinning and Ivory Coast with egg splattered on their faces.

Brighton and Nottingham Forest might be forgiven for feeling a dash of schadenfreude considering they have four players in the Ivory Coast camp.

AFCON host nation Ivory Coast suffered an ignominious 4-0 defeat at the hands of Equatorial Guinea and could exit the tournament

Nottingham Forest could welcome back important defender Willy Boly if they exit early

Brighton could do with having Simon Adingra back early after his contributions this season

Nottingham Forest are keeping an eye on Willy Boly, Serge Aurier, and Ibrahim Sangare and could benefit from their return.

Aurier and Sangare have been unfavoured this season but Boly has been an important player and used to play under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves.

Meanwhile, Brighton would be fortunate to have Simon Adingra back so early.

The winger, 22, has scored five goals and assisted three, becoming an influential part of their forward line in the Premier League and Europa League.

Brighton have recorded back-to-back 0-0 draws in the Premier League without Adingra, including a stalemate with Wolves on Monday night, but found their scoring boots when they vanquished Stoke 4-2 in the FA Cup.

In the Championship, Hull City have missed Jean Michael Seri.

Liam Rosenior’s side have only won one of their five games without the well-travelled midfielder.

Considering that Ivory Coast are four-time AFCON finalists, Forest, Brighton, and Hull would not have bet on potentially having players back so early.

Serge Aurier is another of Nottingham Forest’s players who could return early to English action

Ibrahim Sangare, who hasn’t played for Forest this season, could have his AFCON cut short if results don’t go Ivory Coast’s way

No host nation had even lost a group match in five editions of the tournament since 2012 until Ivory Coast were beaten 1-0 by Nigeria last week.

Until they lost their match with Equatorial Guinea on Monday night, only one other host nation had lost two group stage matches – themselves, way back in 1984, 18 years before Adingra was born.