Jesús Owono is an Equatorial Guinea international goalkeeper who plays for Spanish second-division club FC Andorra.
The 25-year-old received a 12-match suspension from the Spanish Football Federation on November 13, 2026, following a challenge involving Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel.
Owono was sent off after the collision, while De Miguel, 30, was taken to hospital in critical condition and died the following day.
Early Life and Family Background
Jesús Lázaro Owono Ngua Akeng was born on March 1, 2001, in Bata, Equatorial Guinea and is also known as Chus.
According to Owono, his mother had moved to San Sebastián for work, while Owono remained in Equatorial Guinea with his younger siblings and other relatives.
He reunited with his mother in Spain at the age of eight and grew up in the Basque Country, where he attended Ibai Ikastola in San Sebastián and learnt to speak Euskera.
Owono is the eldest of five children and has spoken about the responsibility he feels towards his family.
In an interview with El Correo, he explained that one of his biggest ambitions was to buy a family home where his parents and siblings could live together.
He also explained that he wanted to earn enough to let his parents stop working, recognising the sacrifices they had made to support their children.
“My dream is to one day be able to say, ‘Mum, Dad, stop working, come and live together in a family home so that we can all be together,” Owono stated.
Education
Owono pursued higher education in Business Administration and Management, known in Spain as Administración y Dirección de Empresas (ADE).
Beyond football, Owono enjoys Afrobeat and classical music, and is interested in Marvel characters and collecting action figures.
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Jesús Owono’s Career and Transfers
Owono began his career playing as an outfield player, as a defender, midfielder or striker, for local youth club Antiguoko in San Sebastián.
Later, he earned a place in Real Sociedad’s youth academy, where he spent four years before joining Deportivo Alavés in 2017 at the age of 16.
At Alavés, he progressed through the club’s youth and reserve teams before making his senior debut in January 2022 against Real Sociedad, ending in a 1-1 draw.
Jesus Owono made 20 first-team appearances for Alavés, including 11 in LaLiga, one in the second division and eight in the Copa del Rey.
Move to FC Andorra
In July 2025, Owono joined FC Andorra on a season-long loan from Deportivo Alavés.
During the 2025/26 campaign, he made 20 league appearances and recorded six clean sheets. to secure his services permanently at Andorra in August 2026.
The club announced it had reached an agreement with Alavés to sign Owono permanently; the goalkeeper then signed a two-year contract.
International Career With Equatorial Guinea
Owono made his senior international debut for Equatorial Guinea on March 25, 2019, in a friendly against Saudi Arabia.
At the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, played in January 2022, Owono saved two penalties in the shootout against Mali.
Equatorial Guinea secured the win 6-5 after a goalless draw and progressed to the quarterfinals.
At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, he also attracted attention for his performances against Nigeria and hosts Ivory Coast.
Jesús Owono was named Player of the Match in both games, while the Confederation of African Football recognised him as the tournament’s best goalkeeper during the group stage.
Owono continued representing his country at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
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The 12-Match Suspension After Jesús de Miguel’s Death
Following De Miguel’s death, Owono withdrew from Equatorial Guinea’s squad for its November 2026 qualifying matches against Zimbabwe.
The collision occurred during stoppage time in the November 2 second-division match between Tenerife and FC Andorra.
Owono was sent off after making contact with De Miguel while attempting to clear an aerial ball.
The match was suspended in the 96th minute with the score at 2-2 after the seriousness of De Miguel’s condition became apparent. The striker was taken to hospital but died on November 3.
Before the suspension was announced, Owono had described the period following De Miguel’s death as the hardest days of his life.
In a statement published by FC Andorra, Owono extended his condolences to the striker’s family and loved ones.
On November 13, the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee imposed a 12-match suspension on Owono under Article 102 of its Disciplinary Code.
The committee based its decision on the referee’s report, which described Owono’s challenge as a forceful impact with his leg raised and excessive force used while the ball was in play.
It argued the circumstances and tragic outcome justified the maximum sporting sanction.
“In view of the nature of the conduct described and the circumstances surrounding it, this Committee considers the facts to constitute a serious offence under Article 102 of the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Code, whose particular gravity justifies the imposition of the maximum sanction, namely, a 12-match suspension,” the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee ruled.
The club’s coach, Carles Manso, confirmed that Owono would be given time and space to decide when he was ready to return to football.
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