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 debs 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 have been selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification against Guinea and Sudan on 12 and 15 November 2021.[5]

Caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2021, after the match against Sudan.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Jonas Mendes	(1989-11-20) 20 November 1989	50	0	Black Leopards
	1GK	Manuel Baldé	(2002-11-14) 14 November 2002	0	0	Vizela
	1GK	Maurice Gomis	(1997-11-10) 10 November 1997	0	0	Ayia Napa
	2DF	Rudinilson Silva	(1994-08-20) 20 August 1994	22	0	Kauno Žalgiris
	2DF	Nanú	(1994-05-17) 17 May 1994	18	0	Porto
	2DF	Marcelo Djaló	(1993-10-08) 8 October 1993	13	1	Boavista
	2DF	Fali Candé	(1998-01-24) 24 January 1998	8	0	Portimonense
	2DF	Opa Sanganté	(1991-02-01) 1 February 1991	8	0	Châteauroux
	2DF	Edigeison Gomes	(1988-11-17) 17 November 1988	7	1	HB Køge
	2DF	Jefferson Encada	(1998-04-17) 17 April 1998	4	0	Leixões
	2DF	Simão Júnior	(1998-08-29) 29 August 1998	2	0	Vilafranquense
	2DF	Edgar Ié	(1994-05-01) 1 May 1994	0	0	Trabzonspor
	3MF	Pelé	(1991-09-29) 29 September 1991	20	1	Monaco
	3MF	Bura Nogueira	(1995-12-22) 22 December 1995	18	1	Farense
	3MF	Sori Mané	(1996-04-03) 3 April 1996	16	0	Moreirense
	3MF	João Jaquité	(1996-02-22) 22 February 1996	15	0	Vilafranquense
	3MF	Moreto Cassamá	(1998-02-16) 16 February 1998	12	0	Reims
	3MF	Alfa Semedo	(1997-08-30) 30 August 1997	8	1	Vitória S.C.
	4FW	Piqueti	(1993-02-12) 12 February 1993	32	7	Al-Shoulla
	4FW	Frédéric Mendy	(1988-09-18) 18 September 1988	21	6	Vitória Setúbal
	4FW	Jorginho	(1995-09-21) 21 September 1995	18	2	Wisła Płock
	4FW	Mama Baldé	(1995-11-06) 6 November 1995	13	1	Troyes
	4FW	Joseph Mendes	(1991-03-30) 30 March 1991	13	4	Niort
	4FW	Alexandre Mendy	(1994-03-20) 20 March 1994	7	0	Caen
	4FW	Steve Ambri	(1997-08-12) 12 August 1997	2	0	Sochaux
	4FW	Mauro Rodrigues	(2001-04-15) 15 April 2001	2	0	Sion

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	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	Leonel Ucha	(1988-05-09) 9 May 1988	7	0	Torreense	v.  Congo, 30 March 2021
DF	Fernandy Mendy	(1994-01-16) 16 January 1994	0	0	Alloa Athletic	v.  Congo, 30 March 2021
DF	Juary Soares	(1992-02-20) 20 February 1992	21	1	Créteil	v.  Congo, 30 March 2021
FW	David Gomis	(1992-12-21) 21 December 1992	0	0	Pau	v.  Morocco, 9 October 2021
FW	Panutche Camará	(1997-02-28) 28 February 1997	0	0	Plymouth Argyle	v.  Sudan, 9 September 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.