Guinea-Bissau national football team players, coach, world rankings, AFCON, nickname

Guinea-Bissau national football team players, coach, world rankings, AFCON, nickname

Ciku Njuguna
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM

Soccer is the most popular sport among all traditional and modern games in Guinea Bissau. The country is represented by the Guinea Bissau National team famously nicknamed Djurtus. After missing out on the World Cup Qualifiers, will the Djurtus make it to AFCON knockouts?

Guinea-Bissau national football team
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

What moves the West African soccer club? The Guinea Bissau squad proved their potential in both local and international matches on countless occasions. However, the football club has time and again lost to its opponents. Will AFCON see the stars shine?

Profile Summary

  • Full name: Guinea-Bissau National Football
  • Nickname: Djurtus
  • Managed by: Football Federation of Guinea Bissau
  • Founded: 1974
  • Colours: Red, green, yellow
  • Federation: CAF
  • Coach: Barico Cande
  • Captain: Jonas Mendes
  • FIFA ranking: 106 (as of December 2021)
  • Stadium: Estádio Lino Correia / Estádio 24 de Setembro

History

Guinea-Bissau national football team
The Guinea-Bissau national football team celebrates their only goal against Cameroon during the AFCON 2017 match that ended in a win for Cameroon. Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP.
Source: Getty Images

The Football team was founded in 1974. However, the club has faced several challenges since its inception, such as; limited funding and infrastructure. Fortunately, the soccer scene in Guinea has improved over the years.

Guinea-Bissau National football team, AFCON 2022

The Guinea-Bissau National football team coach named 24 players to represent the national squad in the Africa Cup of Nations 2022. Guinea Bissau National team has qualified for the AFCON championships 8 times without advancing to the knockout stages.

Guinea-Bissau versus Zimbabwe

During a pre-game interview, coach Cande Barico was hopeful about the squad's performance in the Group B match against Zimbabwe.

“Winning would be important for us. There is determination and motivation among the team to move forward. We have tried to keep the high levels of concentration in the players to win the game. We are not in next round yet, so we should work hard to get the three points and, if possible, get the first position. We are building a strong team with many promising players."

The game ended in favour of the Zimbabwe 2 - 1.

Guinea-Bissau versus Sudan

Contrary to the Guinea-Bissau versus Sudan predictions, the much-awaited group D match ended in a loss. Sudan fought to earn their position at AFCON after a 10 year absence.

Guinea-Bissau National football team players

Guinea-Bissau national football team
Goalkeeper Jonas Mendes and squad captain during the AFCON Group A match between Cameroon and Guinea Bissau 2017. Photo by Visionhaus/Corbis
Source: Getty Images

Who is the Guinea-Bissau National football team captain? Goalkeeper Jonas Mendes who also plays for the Portuguese club SC Beira Mar is the Djurtus captain. Here are the names and the 24-man squad set to represent the Guinea Bissau National soccer team.

Goalkeepers:

  • Jonas Mendes (Black leopards)
  • Maurice Gomis (Agias Napas FC)
  • Mama Samba (ES Troyes AC)

Defenders:

  • Chipela Gomes (FC Porto)
  • Fali Candé (Portimonense)
  • Soriano Mané (Moreirense)
  • Ucha Alves (Marihense)
  • Saliu Junior (Vilafranquence)
  • Opa Sangatte (Chateauroux)
  • Jefferson Encada (Leixoes)
  • Ferdinand Mendy (Alloa Athletic FC)

Midfielders:

  • Judilson Gomes (AS Monaco)
  • Braima Candé (Farense)
  • Jaoa Jaquité (Vilafranquence)
  • Moreto Cassama (Stade Reims)
  • Alfa Esteves (Vitoria Guimaraes)
  • Pereira Camara (Plymouth Argyle)

Forwards:

  • Mama Samba (Troyes)
  • Djassi Silva (Al Shoalah)
  • Jorge Intima (Wisla Plock)
  • Mauro Rodrigues (Sion)
  • Joseph Mendes (Niort)
  • Brahim Omar (Sochaux)
  • Frédéric Mendy (Vitoria Setubal)
Guinea-Bissau national football team, AFCON 2022
Guinea-Bissau national football players acknowledge fans during their second AFCON 2022 appearance. Photo:_@cafonline
Source: Instagram

Guinea-Bissau National football team world ranking

According to the latest FIFA rankings, the Djurtus is ranked 106 with 1177.14 points. The team's best ranking was in 2016, when it was rated 68. Their current rankings are an improvement from 2015's 195th position.

Guinea-Bissau national football team, AFCON 2022, Naby Keïta
Guinea-Bissau national football team top player Naby Keïta. Photo:_@keitanabydeco
Source: Instagram

Guinea-Bissau's top player Naby Keïta currently plays with Liverpool Soccer Club. Naby is the 2020 English champion, 2019/2020 UEFA Supercup winner and the 2020 Fifa Club World Cup winner.

It is apparent that the Guinea Bissau National Football team is highly talented. Hopeful fans and supporters worldwide are waiting to see them shine once again.

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Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.