GUINEA-BISSAU coach Baciro Cande believes his side can still end their AFCON 2023 Africa Cup of Nations journey with victory over the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The Djurtus are bottom of Group A after losing their first two games to hosts Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, and have been eliminated from the tournament.

However, Cande is not giving up hope of at least taking the big scalp of the three-time African champions when they face each other on Monday.

Guinea-Bissau are not totally helpless against Nigeria, having beaten the Super Eagles in recent times, a shock 1-0 win incidentally in a qualifying match for AFCON 2023 in Abuja last March.

Cande was also the Djurtus head coach for that match and he fancies a repeat against Jose Peseiro’s Super Eagles.

“We have one game left (against Nigeria) to close the group stage and we hope to win,” Cande said after his side’s 4-2 defeat to Equatorial Guinea yesterday.

The Super Eagles are second in the group with four points, behind leaders Equatorial Guinea on goal difference, and a draw would seal a top two spot and a place in the round of 16.

Guinea-Bissau have never won an AFCON game in their history and this is the fourth edition they are attending, although Cande thought they should have done better against Equatorial Guinea.

“I feel sad. We wanted to win this match but we did not succeed,” he told reporters after the game.

“Before their first goal, we had four chances to score plus the penalty that was refused.

“We worked hard to be ready for this game. Football is sometimes like that.”

[NaijaTimes]