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 friendlies against Guinea and Togo on 13 and 17 October 2023.[5]

Caps and goals correct as of 11 September 2023, after the match against Sierra Leone.[6]

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Celton Biai	(2000-08-13) 13 August 2000	0	0	Vitoria
	1GK	Ouparine Djoco	(1998-04-22) 22 April 1998	0	0	Francs Borains
	2DF	Sori Mané	(1996-04-03) 3 April 1996	29	0	Moreirense
	2DF	Nanú	(1994-05-17) 17 May 1994	22	0	Samsunspor
	2DF	Opa Sanganté	(1991-02-01) 1 February 1991	18	0	Dunkerque
	2DF	Fali Candé	(1998-01-24) 24 January 1998	17	0	Metz
	2DF	Jefferson Encada	(1998-04-17) 17 April 1998	13	0	Pharco
	2DF	Baba Fernandes	(2000-07-03) 3 July 2000	1	0	Accrington
	2DF	Houboulang Mendes	(1998-05-04) 4 May 1998	1	0	Almeria
	3MF	Alfa Semedo	(1997-08-30) 30 August 1997	17	2	Al-Tai
	3MF	Dálcio	(1996-05-22) 22 May 1996	10	0	APOEL
	3MF	Mauro Rodrigues	(2001-04-15) 15 April 2001	8	1	Yverdon-Sport
	3MF	Janio Bikel	(1995-06-28) 28 June 1995	5	0	Gaziantep
	3MF	Nito Gomes	(2002-02-03) 3 February 2002	1	1	Marítimo
	3MF	Carlos Mané	(1994-03-11) 11 March 1994	1	0	Kayserispor
	3MF	Famana Quizera	(2002-04-25) 25 April 2002	1	0	Vizeu
	3MF	Ronaldo Camará	(2003-01-05) 5 January 2003	0	0	Feirense
	3MF	Edson Silva	(2001-05-17) 17 May 2001	0	0	Nea Salamis
	4FW	Zinho Gano	(1993-10-13) 13 October 1993	5	4	Zulte Waregem
	4FW	Toni Gomes	(1998-11-16) 16 November 1998	4	0	Hapoel Hadera
	4FW	Franculino Djú	(2004-06-28) 28 June 2004	1	1	Midtjylland
	4FW	Marciano	(2004-11-06) 6 November 2004	0	0	Almeria B
	4FW	Joao Pedro	(1996-06-13) 13 June 1996	0	0	Panetolikos

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	55	0	Kalamata	v.  Sierra Leone, 11 September 2023
GK	Manuel Baldé	(2002-11-14) 14 November 2002	4	0	Vizela	v.  Sierra Leone, 11 September 2023
GK	Fernando Embadje	(2003-07-06) 6 July 2003	0	0	Alcanenense	v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 15 June 2023
GK	Maurice Gomis	(1997-11-10) 10 November 1997	6	0	Unattached	v.  Gambia, 20 November 2022
DF	Prosper Mendy	(1996-06-07) 7 June 1996	3	0	Kaisar	v.  Sierra Leone, 11 September 2023
DF	Edgar Ié	(1994-05-01) 1 May 1994	1	0	İstanbul Başakşehir	v.  Sierra Leone, 11 September 2023
DF	Tidjane Badjana	(2002-11-28) 28 November 2002	0	0	Benfica de Bissau	v.  Sierra Leone, 11 September 2023
DF	Braima Mané	(2001-11-21) 21 November 2001	0	0	Sporting Club de Bissau	v.  Sierra Leone, 11 September 2023
DF	Tito Júnior	(1995-07-28) 28 July 1995	2	0	Varzim	v.  Nigeria, 27 March 2023
DF	Pedro Justiniano	(2000-04-18) 18 April 2000	2	0	Petrolul Ploiești	v.  Nigeria, 27 March 2023
DF	Saná	(1999-10-10) 10 October 1999	4	0	Debrecen	v.  Gambia, 20 November 2022
MF	Bura	(1995-12-22) 22 December 1995	26	1	Mes Kerman	v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 15 June 2023
MF	Moreto Cassamá	(1998-02-16) 16 February 1998	18	0	Omonia	v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 15 June 2023
MF	Mamadi Camará	(2003-12-31) 31 December 2003	5	0	Reading	v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 15 June 2023
MF	Pelé	(1991-09-29) 29 September 1991	21	1	Unattached	v.  Nigeria, 27 March 2023
FW	Jardel	(1997-09-20) 20 September 1997	4	1	Vizela	v.  Sierra Leone, 11 September 2023
FW	Zé Turbo	(1996-10-22) 22 October 1996	1	0	Pari NN	v.  Sierra Leone, 11 September 2023
FW	Piqueti	(1993-02-12) 12 February 1993	40	7	Al-Shoulla	v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 15 June 2023
FW	Jorginho	(1995-09-21) 21 September 1995	25	5	Ordabasy	v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 15 June 2023
FW	Mama Baldé	(1995-11-06) 6 November 1995	20	2	Troyes	v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 15 June 2023
FW	Leandro Sanca	(2000-01-04) 4 January 2000	0	0	Famalicão	v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 15 June 2023
FW	João Mário	(1993-10-11) 11 October 1993	14	2	Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC	v.  Nigeria, 27 March 2023
FW	Edmilson Correia	(2000-06-06) 6 June 2000	1	0	Unattached	v.  Gambia, 20 November 2022
FW	Clau	(2000-12-08) 8 December 2000	0	0	Logroñés	v.  Gambia, 20 November 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.