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 called up for the 2023 AFCON qualification matches against Nigeria on 24 and 27 March 2023.[5]

Caps and goals correct as of 27 March 2023, after the match against  Nigeria.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Jonas Mendes	(1989-11-20) 20 November 1989	53	0	Kalamata
12	1GK	Manuel Baldé	(2002-11-14) 14 November 2002	4	0	Vizela
22	1GK	Fernando Embadje	(2003-07-06) 6 July 2003	0	0	Alcanenense
	2DF	Sori Mané	(1996-04-03) 3 April 1996	28	0	Moreirense
	2DF	Nanú	(1994-05-17) 17 May 1994	21	0	Santa Clara
	2DF	Fali Candé	(1998-01-24) 24 January 1998	16	0	Metz
	2DF	Opa Sanganté	(1991-02-01) 1 February 1991	16	0	Châteauroux
	2DF	Jefferson Encada	(1998-04-17) 17 April 1998	12	0	Pharco
	2DF	Prosper Mendy	(1996-06-07) 7 June 1996	3	0	Kaisar
	2DF	Tito Júnior	(1995-07-28) 28 July 1995	2	0	Varzim
	2DF	Pedro Justiniano	(2000-04-18) 18 April 2000	2	0	Radomiak Radom
	3MF	Bura Nogueira	(1995-12-22) 22 December 1995	26	1	Mes Kerman
	3MF	Pelé	(1991-09-29) 29 September 1991	21	1	Famalicão
	3MF	Moreto Cassamá	(1998-02-16) 16 February 1998	17	0	Omonia
	3MF	Alfa Semedo	(1997-08-30) 30 August 1997	16	2	Al-Tai
	3MF	Dálcio	(1996-05-22) 22 May 1996	9	0	APOEL
	3MF	Mauro Rodrigues	(2001-04-15) 15 April 2001	6	1	Yverdon-Sport
	3MF	Mamadi Camará	(2003-12-31) 31 December 2003	5	0	Reading
	4FW	Piqueti	(1993-02-12) 12 February 1993	39	7	Al-Shoulla
	4FW	Jorginho	(1995-09-21) 21 September 1995	25	5	Ludogorets Razgrad
	4FW	Mama Baldé	(1995-11-06) 6 November 1995	19	2	Troyes
	4FW	João Mário	(1993-10-11) 11 October 1993	14	2	Spartak Varna
	4FW	Zinho Gano	(1993-10-13) 13 October 1993	4	3	Zulte Waregem
	4FW	Jardel	(1997-09-20) 20 September 1997	4	1	Feirense
	4FW	Toni Gomes	(1998-11-16) 16 November 1998	3	0	Zira

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	Maurice Gomis	(1997-11-10) 10 November 1997	6	0	Free agent	v.  Gambia, 20 November 2022
DF	Saná	(1999-10-10) 10 October 1999	4	0	Debrecen	v.  Gambia, 20 November 2022
DF	Adon Gomis	(1992-07-19) 19 July 1992	2	0	Paris 13 Atletico	v.  Martinique, 25 September 2022
MF	Janio Bikel	(1995-06-28) 28 June 1995	3	0	Khimki	v.  Gambia, 20 November 2022
MF	Umaro Baldé	(1999-06-23) 23 June 1999	1	0	Varzim	v.  Martinique, 25 September 2022
MF	Manuel Pami	(1999-02-05) 5 February 1999	1	0	Differdange	v.  Martinique, 25 September 2022
MF	Zidane Banjaqui	(1998-12-15) 15 December 1998	1	1	Mafra	v.  Sierra Leone, 13 June 2022
FW	Edmilson Correia	(2000-06-06) 6 June 2000	1	0	Saint-Étienne	v.  Gambia, 20 November 2022
FW	Clau	(2000-12-08) 8 December 2000	0	0	Logroñés	v.  Gambia, 20 November 2022
FW	Madi Queta	(1998-10-21) 21 October 1998	4	0	Vilafranquense	v.  Martinique, 25 September 2022
FW	Bruno Ramírez	(1994-12-10) 10 December 1994	1	0	Fola Esch	v.  Martinique, 25 September 2022
FW	José Embaló	(1993-05-03) 3 May 1993	3	2	Free agent	v.  Sierra Leone, 13 June 2022
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.