Guinea-Bissau national football team

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 Pereira Tavares in 11th and 36th minutes. Guinea's Titi Camara equalised with his own brace in the 53rd and 54th minutes. Guinea-Bissau's Co Cipriano won the game with a 60th-minute penalty to make it 3–2.[2] 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 Tibou Bangoura won the match for Guinea, giving them a 5–4 lead on aggregate.[3]

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.[4]

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.

The following players were selected for the friendlies against Equatorial Guinea and Angola on 23 and 26 March 2022.[5]

Caps and goals correct as of 26 March 2022, after the match against Angola.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Rui Dabó	(1994-10-05) 5 October 1994	2	0	Oliveirense
12	1GK	Manuel Baldé	(2002-11-14) 14 November 2002	2	0	Vizela
	1GK	Maurice Gomis	(1997-11-10) 10 November 1997	2	0	Ayia Napa
2	2DF	Fali Candé	(1998-01-24) 24 January 1998	12	0	Metz
3	2DF	Adon Gomis	(1992-07-19) 19 July 1992	1	0	Dunkerque
4	2DF	João Ricciulli	(1999-10-10) 10 October 1999	0	0	Vitória Guimarães B
6	2DF	Bura Nogueira	(1995-12-22) 22 December 1995	22	1	Farense
13	2DF	Saná Gomes	(1999-10-10) 10 October 1999	1	0	Noah
15	2DF	Jefferson Encada	(1998-04-17) 17 April 1998	9	0	Leixões
20	2DF	Sori Mané	(1996-04-03) 3 April 1996	21	0	Moreirense
21	2DF	Tito Júnior	(1995-07-28) 28 July 1995	1	0	Trofense
	2DF	Opa Sanganté	(1991-02-01) 1 February 1991	11	0	Châteauroux
5	3MF	Panutche Camará	(1997-02-28) 28 February 1997	4	1	Plymouth Argyle
8	3MF	Mimito Biai	(1997-12-12) 12 December 1997	0	0	Académica
9	3MF	Janio Bikel	(1995-06-28) 28 June 1995	2	0	Vicenza
11	3MF	Mamadi Camará	(2003-12-31) 31 December 2003	2	0	Reading
14	3MF	Leonel Ucha	(1988-05-09) 9 May 1988	10	0	Cova da Piedade
16	3MF	Moreto Cassamá	(1998-02-16) 16 February 1998	15	0	Reims
23	3MF	Alfa Semedo	(1997-08-30) 30 August 1997	11	1	Vitória S.C.
7	4FW	Mauro Rodrigues	(2001-04-15) 15 April 2001	6	1	Sion
10	4FW	Zinho Gano	(1993-10-13) 13 October 1993	2	1	Zulte Waregem
17	4FW	Dálcio	(1996-05-22) 22 May 1996	2	0	Ionikos
18	4FW	Madi Queta	(1998-10-21) 21 October 1998	2	0	Farense
19	4FW	José Embaló	(1993-05-03) 3 May 1993	1	2	Alashkert
	4FW	Mama Baldé	(1995-11-06) 6 November 1995	16	1	Troyes
	4FW	Alexandre Mendy	(1994-03-20) 20 March 1994	7	0	Caen
	4FW	Steve Ambri	(1997-08-12) 12 August 1997	5	0	Sochaux

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	Jonas Mendes	(1989-11-20) 20 November 1989	51	0	Black Leopards	2021 Africa Cup of Nations
GK	Aristides Gomes	(1999-01-01) 1 January 1999	0	0	SC Bissu	v.  Congo, 30 March 2021
GK	Marco Djoco	(1999-01-15) 15 January 1999	0	0	Juventude Évora	v.  Congo, 30 March 2021
GK	Fernando Embadje	(2000-01-01) 1 January 2000	0	0	Portos de Bissau	v.  Congo, 30 March 2021
DF	Nanú	(1994-05-17) 17 May 1994	18	0	FC Dallas	2021 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Leonel Ucha	(1988-05-09) 9 May 1988	10	0	Torreense	2021 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Simão Júnior	(1998-08-29) 29 August 1998	2	0	Vilafranquense	2021 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Fernandy Mendy	(1994-01-16) 16 January 1994	0	0	Alloa Athletic	2021 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Rudinilson Silva	(1994-08-20) 20 August 1994	22	0	Kauno Žalgiris	v.  Sudan, 15 November 2021
DF	Marcelo Djaló	(1993-10-08) 8 October 1993	13	1	Boavista	v.  Sudan, 15 November 2021
DF	Edigeison Gomes	(1988-11-17) 17 November 1988	7	1	HB Køge	v.  Sudan, 15 November 2021
DF	Edgar Ié	(1994-05-01) 1 May 1994	0	0	Trabzonspor	v.  Sudan, 15 November 2021
DF	Juary Soares	(1992-02-20) 20 February 1992	21	1	Créteil	v.  Congo, 30 March 2021
MF	Pelé	(1991-09-29) 29 September 1991	21	1	Monaco	2021 Africa Cup of Nations
MF	João Jaquité	(1996-02-22) 22 February 1996	15	0	Vilafranquense	2021 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Piqueti	(1993-02-12) 12 February 1993	35	7	Al-Shoulla	2021 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Frédéric Mendy	(1988-09-18) 18 September 1988	24	6	Vitória Setúbal	2021 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Jorginho	(1995-09-21) 21 September 1995	20	2	Wisła Płock	2021 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Joseph Mendes	(1991-03-30) 30 March 1991	14	4	Niort	2021 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	David Gomis	(1992-12-21) 21 December 1992	0	0	Pau	v.  Morocco, 9 October 2021
FW	João Mário	(1993-10-11) 11 October 1993	11	1	Académica	v.  Congo, 30 March 2021
FW	Beto	(1998-01-31) 31 January 1998	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.