Guinea-Bissau Head Coach, Baciro Cande, has told Completesports.com in an exclusive interview in Abuja, that the Djurtus [Wild Dogs] are in Nigeria to try and avenge their 2-0 loss to the Super Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Umar Sadiq and William Troost-Ekong scored the goals for Super Eagles against Guinea-Bissau at Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua on match-day three of AFCON 2021 Group D. Nigeria won the Group with nine points and advanced to the Quater-finals with second-placed Egypt who finished with six points. Sudan and Guinea-Bissau finished with one point apiece and both exited the tournament after the group phase.
Guinea Bissau are currently in second position in the Group A of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, with four points from two matches, behind Nigeria who top the group with six points from two games. Leone Stars of Sierra Leone are in third position with two points from three games while Sao Tome and Principe, with one point from three games, bring up the rear.
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Cande who led Guinea-Bissau to that dismal outing at AFCON 2021 is looking to get good results against Nigeria and qualify for the next AFCON in Ivory Coast. He says that the first leg clash in Abuja today – Friday, March 23 – will be very explosive as the two top Group D teams do battle, adding that they respect the Super Eagles but are not afraid of the three-time African champions.
“We shall do everything possible to beat Nigeria in Abuja as revenge for the loss inflicted on us the last time we clashed at AFCON in Cameroon. It was a tough game and we gave it our best but lost. The quality of the Super Eagles gave them the victory,” Cande told Completesports.com.
“But we have improved and we have learnt from our error and we will ensure that we don’t repeat such again. We are ready for this match and with luck on our side, we shall get the result that will pave way for our qualification.
“The Nigerian team has so many new players who were not in Cameroon just as we have some new players, but from what we have seen so far, we know the team we played against in Cameroon seem much better than the present side. And that is what we hope to explore to our advantage,” Cande concluded
A scheduled pre-match Press Conference for the Guinea Bissau team at Moshood Abiola National Stadium Media Centre on Thursday could not hold because of a little issue which prompted the visitors to walk away before the proceeding could start.
The Djurtus will host the Super Eagles in reverse fixture at the Estadio 24 de Setembro in Bissau on Monday, 27th March 2023.
Richard Jideaka in Abuja
5 Comments
If. U want to beat eagles just play 6 3 1 or 5 4 1 in the 1st and 2ñd halfs.
On 6 3 1
The eagles have dangerous attackers so 6 men wil cut them in the 1st half .
Again the eagles mid Field is not perfect they can hold the ball.so ur players in that area must be fast on them.
Dey are always looking for who to give the Ball to and most time u experience with local guys wil be advantage.the moment that is done u see the stadium booing the eagles.
Dey don’t go for hard Ball because they want to go back to clubs without issues.
In the second half just hold the eagles for another 15 mins.
Not your fault, Guinea-Bissau or what do you call your country?
Speak Portuguese to the coach draw him close .then make him angry with Portuguese language so that he will loss concentration in the second half.tell him how is he coping in English in Portuguese.nobody will hear u in stadium. I wil call u after the game from Qatar.
I don’t blame Guinea-Bissau coach, it’s unserious NFF I blame.