The Guinea-Bissau Football Team arrived in the capital Bissau today to prepare for the game against its counterpart from Sierra Leone, with four casualties on the list of those called up last week for the final match of the qualifying phase for the African Cup of Nations (CAN’2023).
These are the goalkeeper, Ouparine Djoco, the central defender Prosper Mendy, both for administrative reasons, the central defender Edgar Ié and the striker Marciano Sanca Tchami, due to injury at their respective clubs. All were dismissed by the national team’s technical team.
To fill the vacancies, Baciro Candé called up three players who play in the National Championship of the first “Guines-league”, Alama Bangura and Oblak, both from Sport Bissau and Benfica and Panobu from Sporting Clube da Guiné-Bissau.
The information is contained in a note from the Football Federation of Guinea-Bissau (FFGB), released by the organization’s Communications Office, which the sports section of Jornal O Democrática consulted, after the arrival of the national delegation.
With the call-up of three more domestic players, there are a total of 5 players who play in the Guinness League, present in Baciro Candé’s call-up. Candé had called up defenders Tidjane Badjana from Benfica and Braima Djanco Mané from Sporting.
In the list of 23 players announced by the technical structure, the highlight is the presence of Carlos Mané, Famana Quizera and Houboulang Mendes, three absolute debutants, among those chosen.
Since the national coach took office in 2016, this is the first time that he has called up 5 players who play in the Guinness League and left out his national hard core, namely Mama Baldé, Alfa Semedo, Fali Candé, Piqueti Djassi, Bura, Fernando Embadje, Jefferson Encada, Sori Mané and Jorginho.
Baciro Candé’s pupils held their first training session yesterday at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro in Bissau, with the notable presence of FFGB directors and some fans, in the only venue capable of hosting international matches in Guinea-Bissau.
With qualification already guaranteed for the fourth consecutive time for the African Championship of Nations (CAN), which will be played in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau will host its counterpart from Sierra Leone on September 11th to conclude the qualification for the test.
Nigeria leads qualifying Group A, with 12 points, two above ‘vice’ Guinea-Bissau, which is also qualified with one round to go, while Sierra Leone, third placed, with five, and São Tomé and Príncipe, with one, they will fail the 34th edition of CAN.
The opening game is scheduled for January 13, 2024, with the final scheduled for February 21. The 34th edition of the competition will take place, for the first time in 40 years, in Côte d’Ivoire.
