Guinea-Bissau national football team

Guinea-Bissau
Nickname(s)	Djurtus
Association	Federação de Futebol da Guiné-Bissau
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach	Baciro Candé
Captain	Jonas Mendes
Most caps	Jonas Mendes (50)
Top scorer	Nando Có (9)
Home stadium	Estádio 24 de Setembro; Estádio Lino Correia
FIFA code	GNB
FIFA ranking
Current	106 (23 December 2021)
Highest	68 (November 2016–January 2017)
Lowest	195 (February–March 2010)
First international
	British Gambia 1–2 Portuguese Guinea ; (British Gambia; June 2, 1952)
Biggest win
	Guinea-Bissau 7–2 Benin ; (Bamako, Mali; November 3, 2001)
Biggest defeat
	Guinea 7–0 Guinea-Bissau ; (Conakry, Guinea; July 22, 2017)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	3 (first in 2017)
Best result	Group stage (2017, 2019)

The Guinea-Bissau national football team (Portuguese: Seleção nacional de futebol da Guiné-Bissau) represents Guinea-Bissau in men's international association football and it is controlled by the Football Federation of Guinea-Bissau, The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cups but qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations three times, making their debut in 2017. The team is a member of both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

History[]

World Cup qualifying[]

Guinea-Bissau entered their first FIFA World Cup qualification with the aim of reaching the 1998 World Cup in France. The first round of African qualification required for them to play Guinea in a two-legged match. The first leg was held at home in the Estadio 24 de Setembro in Bissau on 1 June 1996 with an attendance of 15,000. Guinea-Bissau went 2–0 up at half-time after strikes from in 11th and 36th minutes. Guinea's Titi Camara equalised with his own brace in the 53rd and 54th minutes. Guinea-Bissau's won the game with a 60th-minute penalty to make it 3–2.^[3] The away leg was held at the Stade du 28 Septembre in Conakry. Momo Soumah of Guinea scored to level the tie at half-time before Nando Có scored a bicycle kick for Guinea-Bissau to put his side 4–3 up on aggregate, however another goal from Momo Soumah and a winner from won the match for Guinea, giving them a 5–4 lead on aggregate.^[4]

Guinea-Bissau had never progressed beyond the first round of qualification until the 2022 qualifiers where they defeated São Tomé and Príncipe 3–1 over two legs, thanks to three goals from Joseph Mendes.^[5]

Africa Cup of Nations[]

Guinea-Bissau first participated in AFCON qualification in 1994 where they defeated Cape Verde over three legs, but failed to register a single point in the second round as their draw against Togo was annulled after Togo withdrew from the competition. In 1996 Guinea-Bissau withdrew from qualification after a draw and two losses to begin the campaign, leading to their ban for 1998 AFCON.

Guinea-Bissau next entered qualification in 2006 where they lost 4–1 to Mali national football team and were again banned in 2008 for unpaid debts to CAF. In 2012 they secured a single win (1–0 against Kenya) and five losses to finish last in Group J. The following year they were eliminated 2–0 by Cameroon. In 2015, after beating Central African Republic 3–1, they lost to Botswana by the same scoreline.

For the 2017 qualifiers, Guinea-Bissau was drawn from Pot 4 into Group E and, despite being the lowest ranked nation in their group, achieved ten points and qualified for the 2017 tournament ahead of Congo, Zambia and Kenya. In their African Cup of Nations debut, Guinea-Bissau drew 1–1 with Gabon with a 91st minute equaliser by Juary Soares. This was the only point they collected at the tournament and they were eliminated in the group stage.

Guinea-Bissau then also won their Group in the 2019 qualifiers to reach a second straight Finals. They again managed one draw (0–0 against Benin) and two losses and failed to progress to the knock-out stages.

On March 30 2021, Guinea-Bissau went into their final qualifying match against Congo, needing a victory to qualify. They ended comfortable winners with goals from Piqueti, Frédéric Mendy and Jorginho to secure their third successive AFCON appearance.

Results and fixtures[]

Win Draw Loss

2021[]

26 March 2021 AFCONQ	Eswatini	1–3	Guinea-Bissau	Manzini, Eswatini
15:00 UTC+2	Badenhorst 21'	Report	Djaló 15' Semedo 25' Pelé 50'	Stadium: Mavuso Sports Centre Referee: Jean-Claude Ishimwe (Rwanda)

30 March 2021 AFCONQ	Guinea-Bissau	3–0	Congo	Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
16:00 UTC±0	Piqueti 45+1' Mendy 73' Jorginho 80'	Report		Stadium: Estádio 24 de Setembro Referee: Kouassi Attiogbe (Togo)

11 June Friendly	Guinea-Bissau	Cancelled	Cape Verde	Senegal
19:00 UTC±0

1 September 2022 World Cup qualification - Group I	Guinea-Bissau	1–1	Guinea	Nouakchott, Mauritania
	Mendes 51'	Report	Kamano 7'	Stadium: Stade Olympique

7 September 2022 World Cup qualification - Group I	Sudan	2–4	Guinea-Bissau	Omdurman, Sudan
	Mohamed Abdelrahman 55', 92'	Report	Piqueti 8', 39' Mendy 11' Baldé 82'	Stadium: Al-Hilal Stadium

6 October 2022 World Cup qualification - Group I	Morocco	5–0	Guinea-Bissau	Rabat, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1	Hakimi 31' Louza 45+1' (pen.) Chair 49' El Kaabi 62' Munir 82'	Report		Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium Referee: Boubou Traoré (Mali)

9 October 2022 World Cup qualification - Group I	Guinea-Bissau	0–3	Morocco	Casablanca, Morocco
		Report	El Kaabi 10', 70' Barkok 20'	Stadium: Stade Mohamed V Referee: Jean Jacques Ndala Ngambo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

12 November 2022 World Cup qualification - Group I	Guinea	0–0	Guinea-Bissau	Conakry, Guinea
16:00 UTC±0		Report		Stadium: General Lansana Conté Stadium Referee: (Egypt)

15 November 2022 World Cup qualification - Group I	Guinea-Bissau	0–0	Sudan	Marrakesh, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1		Report		Stadium: Stade de Marrakech Referee: Jean Ouattara (Burkina Faso)

2022[]

11 January 2021 Africa Cup of Nations	Sudan	0–0	Guinea-Bissau	Garoua, Cameroon
		Report		Stadium: Roumdé Adjia Stadium Referee: (Senegal)

15 January 2021 Africa Cup of Nations	Guinea-Bissau	0–1	Egypt	Garoua, Cameroon
		Report	Salah 69'	Stadium: Roumdé Adjia Stadium Referee: (Burundi)

19 January 2021 Africa Cup of Nations	Guinea-Bissau	v	Nigeria	Garoua, Cameroon
		Report		Stadium: Roumdé Adjia Stadium Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenia)

Coaching history[]

Guilherme Farinha (1990–1994)
(2000)
Baciro Candé (2001–2009)
Luís Norton de Matos (2010–2012)
Carlos Manuel (2012–2014)
Paulo Torres (2014–2016)
Baciro Candé (2016–present)

Players[]

Current squad[]

The following players have been selected for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.^[6]

Caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2021, after the match against Sudan.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Jonas Mendes	(1989-11-20) 20 November 1989 (age 32)	50	0	Black Leopards
24	1GK		(2002-11-14) 14 November 2002 (age 19)	0	0	Vizela
12	1GK	Maurice Gomis	(1997-11-10) 10 November 1997 (age 24)	0	0	Ayia Napa

21	2DF	Nanú	(1994-05-17) 17 May 1994 (age 27)	18	0	FC Dallas
2	2DF	Fali Candé	(1998-01-24) 24 January 1998 (age 23)	8	0	Portimonense
22	2DF	Opa Sanganté	(1991-02-01) 1 February 1991 (age 30)	8	0	Châteauroux
3	2DF	Leonel Ucha	(1988-05-09) 9 May 1988 (age 33)	7	0	Torreense
15	2DF	Jefferson Encada	(1998-04-17) 17 April 1998 (age 23)	4	0	Leixões
4	2DF	Simão Júnior	(1998-08-29) 29 August 1998 (age 23)	2	0	Vilafranquense
14	2DF	Fernandy Mendy	(1994-01-16) 16 January 1994 (age 28)	0	0	Alloa Athletic

10	3MF	Pelé	(1991-09-29) 29 September 1991 (age 30)	20	1	Monaco
6	3MF	Bura Nogueira	(1995-12-22) 22 December 1995 (age 26)	18	1	Farense
20	3MF	Sori Mané	(1996-04-03) 3 April 1996 (age 25)	16	0	Moreirense
8	3MF	João Jaquité	(1996-02-22) 22 February 1996 (age 25)	15	0	Vilafranquense
16	3MF	Moreto Cassamá	(1998-02-16) 16 February 1998 (age 23)	12	0	Reims
23	3MF	Alfa Semedo	(1997-08-30) 30 August 1997 (age 24)	8	1	Vitória S.C.
5	3MF	Panutche Camará	(1997-02-28) 28 February 1997 (age 24)	0	0	Plymouth Argyle

18	4FW	Piqueti	(1993-02-12) 12 February 1993 (age 28)	32	7	Al-Shoulla
13	4FW	Frédéric Mendy	(1988-09-18) 18 September 1988 (age 33)	21	6	Vitória Setúbal
11	4FW	Jorginho	(1995-09-21) 21 September 1995 (age 26)	18	2	Wisła Płock
17	4FW	Mama Baldé	(1995-11-06) 6 November 1995 (age 26)	13	1	Troyes
19	4FW	Joseph Mendes	(1991-03-30) 30 March 1991 (age 30)	13	4	Niort
9	4FW	Steve Ambri	(1997-08-12) 12 August 1997 (age 24)	2	0	Sochaux
7	4FW	Mauro Rodrigues	(2001-04-15) 15 April 2001 (age 20)	2	0	Sion

Recent call-ups[]

The following players have been called up for Guinea-Bissau in the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Aristides Gomes	(1999-01-01) 1 January 1999 (age 23)	0	0	SC Bissu	v. Congo, 30 March 2021
GK	Marco Djoco	(1999-01-15) 15 January 1999 (age 23)	0	0	Juventude Évora	v. Congo, 30 March 2021
GK	Fernando Embadje	(2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 22)	0	0	Portos de Bissau	v. Congo, 30 March 2021

DF	Rudinilson Silva	(1994-08-20) 20 August 1994 (age 27)	22	0	Kauno Žalgiris	v. Sudan, 15 November 2021
DF	Marcelo Djaló	(1993-10-08) 8 October 1993 (age 28)	13	1	Boavista	v. Sudan, 15 November 2021
DF	Edigeison Gomes	(1988-11-17) 17 November 1988 (age 33)	7	1	HB Køge	v. Sudan, 15 November 2021
DF	Edgar Ié	(1994-05-01) 1 May 1994 (age 27)	0	0	Trabzonspor	v. Sudan, 15 November 2021
DF	Juary Soares	(1992-02-20) 20 February 1992 (age 29)	21	1	Créteil	v. Congo, 30 March 2021


FW	Alexandre Mendy	(1994-03-20) 20 March 1994 (age 27)	7	0	Caen	v. Sudan, 15 November 2021
FW	David Gomis	(1992-12-21) 21 December 1992 (age 29)	0	0	Pau	v. Morocco, 9 October 2021
FW	João Mário	(1993-10-11) 11 October 1993 (age 28)	11	1	Académica	v. Congo, 30 March 2021
FW	Beto	(1998-01-31) 31 January 1998 (age 23)	0	0	Udinese	v. Congo, 30 March 2021
^DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up. ^INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. ^PRE Preliminary squad. ^RET Player has retired from international football. ^SUS Suspended from the national team. ^WD Withdrew from squad.

Records[]

As of 15 November 2021

Players in bold are still active with Guinea Bissau.

Most appearances
Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Jonas Mendes	50	0	2010–present
2	Adelino Lopes	36	2	1994–2001
3	Zezinho	34	2	2010–2019
4	Piqueti Djassi	32	7	2015–present
5	Mamadu Candé	23	0	2010–present
6	Bacar Baldé	22	1	2010–present
	Rudinilson Silva	22	0	2014–present
	Juary Soares	22	1	2015–present
9	Frédéric Mendy	21	6	2016–present
10	Bocundji Cá	20	1	2010–2017
10	Pelé	20	1	2017–present

Top goalscorers
Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Nando Co	9	6	1.5	1996–2001
2	Piqueti Djassi	7	32	0.22	2015–present
3	Cícero Semedo	6	14	0.43	2010–2016
3	Frédéric Mendy	6	21	0.29	2016–present
5	Joseph Mendes	4	13	0.31	2019–present
6		3	3	1	1995
6	Zezinho	3	34	0.09	2010–present
8		2	1	2	1996
	Basile de Carvalho	2	6	0.33	2011–2012
	Niche	2	11	0.18	2013–present
	Jorginho	2	18	0.11	2018–present
	Toni Silva	2	19	0.11	2013–present

Competition records[]

FIFA World Cup record[]

FIFA World Cup record									FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Part of Portugal								Part of Portugal
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978	Did not enter								Declined participation
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998	Did not qualify								2	1	0	1	4	5
2002									2	0	1	1	0	3
2006									2	0	0	2	1	4
2010									2	0	1	1	0	1
2014									2	0	1	1	1	2
2018									2	0	1	1	2	4
2022									8	3	3	2	8	12
2026	To be determined								To be determined
Total		0/22							20	4	7	9	16	31

Africa Cup of Nations record[]

Africa Cup of Nations record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1957	Part of Portugal
1959
1962
1963
1965
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976	Not affiliated to CAF
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988	Did not enter
1990
1992
1994	Did not qualify
1996	Withdrew during qualifying
1998	Banned for withdrawing in 1996
2000	Did not enter
2002	Withdrew
2004	Withdrew
2006	Did not qualify
2008	Did not enter
2010	Did not qualify
2012
2013
2015
2017	Group stage	14th	3	0	1	2	2	5
2019	Group stage	20th	3	0	1	2	0	4
2021	Qualified
2023	To be determined
2025	To be determined
Total	Group stage	3/33	6	0	2	4	2	9

Honours[]

Amilcar Cabral Cup :

1 Time Runners-up

References[]

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
^ "CAF – 1998 FIFA WORLD CUP PRELIMINARIES". Allworldcup.narod.ru. 1996-06-01. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
^ "CAF – 1998 FIFA WORLD CUP PRELIMINARIES". Allworldcup.narod.ru. 1996-06-16. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
^ "World Football: The Week in Numbers". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
^ "Guinea-Bissau include Moreto Cassama in squad". BBC Sport.

External links[]

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-2] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.

[3] "CAF – 1998 FIFA WORLD CUP PRELIMINARIES". Allworldcup.narod.ru. 1996-06-01. Retrieved 2012-04-20.

[4] "CAF – 1998 FIFA WORLD CUP PRELIMINARIES". Allworldcup.narod.ru. 1996-06-16. Retrieved 2012-04-20.

[5] "World Football: The Week in Numbers". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2021.

[6] "Guinea-Bissau include Moreto Cassama in squad". BBC Sport.

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