Guinea-Bissau reveal TotalEnergies CAF AFCON target after landing in Cote d’Ivoire
Coach Baciro Candé is confident Guinea-Bissau can reach the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations after arriving in Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday .
The Djurtus who touched down at Abidjan’s Félix Houphouët-Boigny Airport on Sunday, became the second side after Morocco to arrive in the West African country to participate in the continental showpiece event.Thy were greeted by a traditional Ivorian welcome drumming and dancing as well as dozens of their compatriots who had gathered at the airport as they prepared to face the host nation in the opening match of the competition on Saturday.
Drawn in Group A, Guinea-Bissau will face a tough challenge against Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
The Djurtus who will be making their fourth appearance at the AFCON , will have the honour of playing the opener on Saturday against the host country at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe.
The first coach to qualify his country for the most prestigious sporting event in Africa in 2017,
The 56-year-old Candé who first qualify his country for the AFCON in 2017, will be making his fourth appearance in the tournament and at the helm of the side.
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Saturday’s opener will be the second experience of Guinea-Bissau in playing in the opening match of the competition after featuring in the opening game of the 2017 edition in Gabon with Candé in charge.
“I’m used to it; the first competition I participated in, we played the opening match against Gabon, and we drew (1-1). I know that Côte d’Ivoire is stronger than Gabon, but Guinea-Bissau will do its job, slowly,” Candé told CAFOnline.com upon their arrival in Abidjan on Sunday. “Our goal is to finally get past the first round. It’s true that our group is very tough with opponents like Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea, but anything is possible in football, anything is possible,” declared the coach.
Guinea-Bissau will face Equatorial Guinea on the second matchday scheduled for January 18, 2024, in Group A.
They will conclude the group stage with another challenge against Nigeria on January 22 at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.