PREMIER LEAGUE TEAMS VULNERABLE
DEBUTANTS Guinea-Bissau achieved one of the most remarkable qualifications in the 60-year-old Africa Cup of Nations by reaching this year’s finals – and are plotting more shocks.
The Djurtus (African wild dogs) topped a group, ahead of former champions Congo Brazzaville and Zambia and Kenya, that they were considered certainties to prop up.
Guinea-Bissau mocked the form book with a starless team to clinch a first Cup of Nations appearance.
The unexpected success has propelled the tiny nation from Fifa rankings obscurity to 15th in Africa and 68th in the world. They rose 78 places last year – more than any other country internationally.
Now they are plotting the downfall of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyanginspired hosts Gabon this weekend in the showcase opener in Libreville.
Four-time champions Cameroon and 2013 runners-up Burkina Faso complete Group A – and the top two finishers after a single-round mini league book quarterfinals slots.
Guinea-Bissau are the 150-1 title no-hopers among the quartet, according to international bookmakers, but coach Baciro Cande, 68, says he has more shocks in store.
“I want to make one thing very clear, we are not going to Gabon for a holiday,” Cande said after a training session in the capital, Bissau.
“My squad is composed of 23 proud professional footballers who are thinking only of bringing joy to the people of Guinea-Bissau.
“The best way to do that is to win matches and qualifying for the quarterfinals in our Africa Cup debut. “We eliminated former champions Congo and Zambia and can perform even better. The squad will work ceaselessly to achieve results.”
The coastal country’s football federation president, Manuel Lopes Nascimento, is equally hopeful as Guinea-Bissau prepare for the greatest moment in their sporting history.
“It is wonderful to compete in the opening match and I am optimistic that we will beat Gabon. We are coming to play great football and put our country on the global map,” he said.
Football success has brought a welcome change of image to a country ranked by the United Nations among the 10 poorest in the world.
Before the 2017 qualifiers, the country of less than two million people had won just four of 22 matches in previous editions.