The head coach of the Guinea Bissau national team has said the target of the team is to make it to the knockout stage at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021.
Cameroon will host the AFCON 2021 from January 9th to February 6th.
Baciro Candé named his 24-man squad today and made it clear that since they failed to make it out of the group in the last two AFCONs, they are hungry to qualify for the knockout stage.
“We have a tough group with strong teams like Egypt, Nigeria and Sudan. But we have what it takes to get some good results and qualify out of the group,” said Candé.
The coach made it clear that they have balanced the squad with experienced players and some young ones. He also included three players who played in the 2017 and 2019 AFCON tournaments Piquete Djassi Silva, Frédéric Mendy and goalkeeper Jonas Mendes.
The Guinea Bissau team will open their campaign with a match against Sudan on January 11th, before taking on seven time AFCON winners Egypt on January 15th. Candé’s team will play their last group match against Nigeria on January 19th.
Guinea Bissau squad
Goalkeepers: Jonas Mendes (Beira Mar, Portugal), Maurice Gomis (Ayia Napa FC, Cyprus), Manuel Mama Samba Baldé (Vizela, Portugal)
Defenders: Eulanio Chipela Gomes (FC Porto, Portugal), Fali Candé (Portimonense, Portugal), Manconi Soriano Mané (Moreirense, Portugal), Ladislau Leonel Ucha Alves (Marihense, Portugal), Aurisio Saliu Junior (Vilafranquence, Portugal), Opa Sangatte (Chateauroux, France), Jefferson Encada (Leixoes, Portugal), Ferdinand Mendy (Alloa Athletic FC, Scotland).
Midfielders: Judilson Gomes (AS Monaco, France), Jorge Braima Candé Nougueira (Farense, Portugal), Jaoa Lamine Jaquité (Vilafranquence, Portugal), Moreto Cassama (Stade Reims, France), Alfa Semedo Esteves (Vitoria Guimaraes, Portugal) , Panutchi Pereira Camara (Plymouth Argyle, England)
Forwards: Mama Samba Baldé (Troyes, France), Piqueti Djassi Silva (Al Shoalah, Saudi Arabia), Jorge Barbosa Intima (Wisla Plock, Poland), Mauro Rodrigues Texeira (Sion, Switzerland), Joseph Mendes (Niort, France), Steve Brahim Omar Ambri (Sochaux, France), Frédéric Mendy (Vitoria Setubal, Portugal)
