Binewa Team profile: Guinea-Bissau at the TotalEnergies AFCON

Guinea-Bissau, a low-lying, swampy plateau rising to savanna in the east, is making her fourth AFCON finals next year, which happens to equally be the country’s fourth appearance 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 their 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 had given Gabon a lead – totally against the run of play, before Juary Soares equalised in second half added-on time.

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 stroke 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 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 score.

At the AFCON 2021, Guinea once more failed to get through to the knockout rounds in group D, that had: Egypt, Nigeria and Sudan.

A zero-all tie on opening day was followed by an agonizing 1-0 loss to Egypt, and a 2-0 defeat to Nigeria on the third and final day.

Guinea Bissau’s run to the 2023 AFCON finals

Guinea Bissau was placed in group A of the TotalEnergies AFCON 2023 qualifications alongside: Nigeria, Soa Tome & Principe, and Sierra Leone.

Guinea defeated Soa Tome & Principe via a 5-1 margin on game day 1. A 2-all draw against Sierra Leone followed before arguably the result of the group when Guinea defeated the Super Eagles.

On game day 3, Guinea leapfrogged Nigeria courtesy a 30th minute converted penalty from Mama Balde.

Nigeria took her own pound of flesh (1-0) in the reversed fixture. Successive wins against Soa Tome and Sierra Leone put Guinea second on the log.

Guinea Bissau qualifications results

Guinea-Bissau 5–1 São Tomé and Príncipe
Semedo 40′
Gano 50′, 58′
Banjaqui 80′
Jorginho 87’//
Viegas 21′

Sierra Leone 2–2 Guinea-Bissau
Kargbo 78′
Mu. Kamara 87’//
Jorginho 49′, 52′

Nigeria 0–1 Guinea-Bissau
M. Baldé 29′

Guinea-Bissau 0–1 Nigeria
Simon 30′ (pen.)

São Tomé and Príncipe 0–1 Guinea-Bissau
Gano 55′

Guinea-Bissau 2–1 Sierra Leone
Nito 35′
Djú 48’//
Bakayoko 6′

Group A standing after games

Nigeria 15 pts
Guinea Bissau 13 pts
Sierra Leone 5 pts
Soa Tome & Principe 1 pt

Players to watch

Zinho Gano

30-year-old Zulte Waregem forward, Zinho Gano will lead Guinea Bissau’s attack at the AFCON. The poacher has a unique style of holding and keeping the ball. When the chances come, Zinho scores, and he thrives on good services from his midfeilders. Zinho Gano ended the qualifications campaign for Guinea Bissau as top scorer with 3 goals.

Mama Balde

Mama Balde showed a glimmer of what he is capable of, on game day 3 when Guinea beat Nigeria 1-0 away in the qualifiers. Now on loan at Lyon, Balde is very useful as winger or wing back. Aged 28, Mama Balde has accumulated over 21 appearances since 2021, and scored three times, with two of his goals coming in 2023.

Franculino Dju

Fleet-footed FC Midtjylland forward Franculino Dju has come of age, and he will be handed his first real tournament chance when the ball gets rolling in Cote D’Ivoire. The 19 year old has only played 3 times for Guinea-Bissau, scoring once in the process. For club side Midtjylland, Dju has stacked a staggering 12 goals and 5 assists in 19 appearances. Franculino Dju has as a task to slot into the shoes of Piqueti, who was left out of the competition.

Fali Cande

Highly rated Metz center-half Fali Cande is another Guinea Bissau player to look out for in Cote D’Ivoire. Rarely are defenders given the plaudits, but Fali Cande, 25, is pivotal in coach Baciro Cande’s plans.

Fali was in Cameroon for the last AFCON edition but was limited to just one appearance. However, this time, with over 14 French Ligue 1 appearances, the center-half has come of age.

AFCON 2023 games

The red carpet will be rolled out for Guinea-Bissau in the AFCON group A opener on January 13th against Cote D’Ivoire, at the Ebimpe Olympic stadium.

Baciro Cande and his men then follow up against Equatorial Guinea on January 18, before the last group game against Nigeria on January 22.

Coach

Guinea Bissau head – coach Baciro Candé, who was a former player himself, has had two stints as trainer of the national selection. The 56 year old who was born in Catio in 1967, has been aplomb for his country, taking them to 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 over 44 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.