With little fanfare, Guinea Bissau is set to contest the 4th consecutive Africa Cup of Nations in its history. Since their first appearance in 2017, the Djurtus have made a habit of not missing out on African soccer's big event. Ahead of AFCON 2023, here's a reminder of what you need to know about the team.
Guinea Bissau will be taking part in the 4th edition of the African Cup of Nations.
The country
Capital: Bissau
Surface area: 36,120 km2
Population: 2,060,721
Official language: Portuguese
Inhabitants : Bissau-Guinéens / Bissau-Guinéennes
Motto: Unity, Struggle, Progress
Team nickname: Les Djurtus (The Wild Dogs)
Guinea Bissau and the AFCON
Title: 0
Final: 0
Appearances prior to AFCON 2023: 3
Host country: 0
AFCON history
2017: eliminated in group stage
2019: eliminated in group stage
2021: eliminated in group stage
La Guinée Bissau préparera sa CAN à Bamako ! 🇲🇱
Les Djurtus affronteront les Aigles du Mali le 3 janvier et rallieront Abidjan le 7 janvier 🛫 pic.twitter.com/ybEBmBhvTI
— Les Aigles Du Mali 🇲🇱🦅 (@AiglesDuMali_) December 18, 2023
AFCON record
9 matches
0 wins
3 draws
6 defeats
2 goals scored
12 goals conceded
The star: Mama Baldé
Despite being 28 years old, he has just 20 caps for Guinea Bissau. Since making his international debut in 2019, the striker now with Olympique Lyonnais has gradually established himself as a key player in the team. Currently struggling at club level, Mama Baldé has also had little success with the national team, with just 2 goals to his name. Yet it is he who the Djurtus fans are counting on to lead his side to a first-ever victory at the finals of an African Cup of Nations. And what if, given his situation at club level, this AFCON was a breath of fresh air for him?
The coach: Baciro Candé
At 56 years of age, Baciro Candé is the man behind all Guinea Bissau's AFCON campaigns. After a first spell on the Djurtus bench between 2001 and 2009, the technician returned to the job in 2016, with the success he is known for. It was under his command that the team contested the first AFCON in its history, in 2017. Since then, the former international has qualified his team for every final phase of the competition. He now needs to break through this glass ceiling by securing a first victory in the group phase, before dreaming of qualifying for the last eight.
Baciro Candé will lead Guinea Bissau to their 4th AFCON finals.
Guinea Bissau's schedule in Group A
January 13: Côte d'Ivoire - Guinea Bissau
January 18: Equatorial Guinea - Guinea Bissau
January 22: Guinea Bissau - Nigeria
🇬🇼En quête de nouveaux renforts en vue de la CAN 2023, la Guinée-Bissau a entamé des discussions afin d’enrôler Batista Mendy, qui fait forte impression avec Trabzonspor
🔗https://t.co/RplgY5DbGX#sna #Can2023 #Football #Batistamendy
— Sport News Africa (@snewsafrica) December 16, 2023
