AFCON 2021: Guinea Bissau, The Ultimately Outsiders In Group D

Guinea-Bissau, a low-lying, swampy plateau rising to savanna in the east, is making her third AFCON finals come 2021, which happens to equally be their third appearances in a row.

The Djurtus of Guinea Bissau (The African Wild Dog), made her debut appearance in the tournament back in 2017. The team missed out on the first 30 tournaments from the late 70s, and only made a long awaited entrance in 2017.

Guinea Bissau was paired alongside 2017 hosts Gabon – in pool A, eventual winners Cameroon, and third place runners – up, Burkina Faso.

Guinea Bissau sent schock waves in her very first game in the AFCON, where they held Gabon to a one – all tie, at a jam – packed Stade de L’amitie stadium. Captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has given Gabon a lead – totally against the run of play, before Juary Soares equalised in added on time in the second half.

The second outing was more complicated as Guinea faced Cameroon. They gave a good account of themselves, tilting Cameroon to the end.

On what looked a physical mis – match on paper, Guinea took the lead at the 13th minute via Piqueti Djassi Brito, before two goals from Siani and Ngadeu Michael turned the tie in favour of the favorites.

Guinea Bissau’s campaign in 2017 met an abrupt end, when Burkina Faso struck last, with a two – nil victory, to ensure Baciro Cande and his team went home as bottom in group A.

In 2019, Guinea Bissau was now dealing with a tournament they were a little familiar with. Drawn in group F against: Benin, Cameroon and Ghana, the African Dogs finished bottom with a point.

Due to the change of format and increase of teams, even Benin that finished third, made the knockouts in group F. Guinea opened her competition with a 2-0 loss to Cameroon. The Indomitable Lions s scored through Yaya Banana and Stephan Bahoken. A nil – all followed against the squirrels of Benin, before the Black Stars landed the ‘coup de grace’ on Guinea, with a 2-0 win.

Coach

Guinea Bissau head – coach Baciro Candé, who was a former player himself, has had two stints as trainer of the national selection. The 54 year old who was born in Catio in 1967, has been aplomb for his country, taking them the every event of the AFCON since 2017.

He began managing in Guinea-Bissau with Desportivo de Farim, U.D.I.B, Bula Futebol Clube, Estrela Negra de Bissau and Ajuda Sport Clube, and won the 1988–89 Taça Nacional da Guiné Bissau with Desportivo de Farim. Next, he spent several years managing Sporting Clube de Bissau, winning nine league titles with the club.

Since 2003 until 2010 he coached the Guinea-Bissau national football team before looking elsewhere. He returned as head coach of the national team in March 2016.

He will be looking to take the team out of the group stage for the first time of asking. In Bacire’s 29 competitive games with Guinea, opponents have taken no time to witness how daring he is. The later likes fast and counter attacking football. On Cande’s day, his team can take on the so called favourites, and give them a proper headache.

Road to the AFCON

Group I of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification tournament was one of the twelve groups that decided the teams which qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals tournament. The group consisted of four teams: Senegal, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, and Eswatini.

Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, the group winners and runners-up respectively, qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Guinea’s Results in group I of the AFCON qualifiers

Guinea Bissau 3-0 Eswatini

Congo 3-0 Guinea Bissau

Senegal 2-0 Guinea Bissau

Guinea Bissau 0-1 Senegal

Eswatini 1-3 Guinea Bissau

Guinea Bissau 3-0 Congo

Players to watch

Piqueti Djassi Brito Silva has been there twice before, and shown what a classy player he is; especially with his finish against Cameroon in the 2017 tourney. The 28 year old who plays his club football in the Saudi Pro League – moves like a cat fish, and in full throttle, he is exceptionally difficult to stop.
Piqueti represented Portugal at under-20 level, before switching nationality in 2015 to represent Guinea. He has scored 7 international goals in 32 games for Guinea.

From one winger to another in this Guinea Bissau side.

Jorge Fernando Barbosa Intima, show – named Jorginho, is another great asset for the side. His speed and agility makes the former Manchester city man a real menace. Jorginho, 26, scored 2 goals for Guinea Bissau underway to the AFCON. His goals against Congo and Eswatini were of utmost importance.

Creative midfeilder Alfa Semedo of Portuguese club Vitória de Guimarães, offers lots of creativity playing behind the forwards. He equally gets into the act of scoring when needed.

He made his debut for Guinea-Bissau national football team on 26 March 2021 in an AFCON 2021 qualifier against Eswatini and scored the team’s second goal in a 3–1 win.

Guinea Bissau kick-starts the tournament in group D on January 11. They then go on to play against Egypt and Nigeria on the January 15th and 19th respectively.