AFCON 2023: Guinea-Bissau land in Cote d’Ivoire as Nigeria get ready for Guinea clash

The Djurtus have never made it past the group stage of the continental championship but will look to rewrite the record books this month

A delegation of Guinea-Bissau’s players, coaches, and federation officials have landed in Cote d’Ivoire ahead of their opening match at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.

Guinea-Bissau have made their way to Abidjan six days before they trade tackles with hosts Cote d’Ivoire on January 13 in the first match of the 34th edition of the AFCON.

The Djurtus will square up against Equatorial Guinea on matchday two before locking horns with Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their final Group A game.

The Bissau Guineans have a terrible record at the continental championships, where they have never qualified for the knockout rounds after three attempts.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will look to put the finishing touches to their preparation for the AFCON with a friendly match with Guinea tomorrow, Monday, January 8.

The Nigerian national team has been in a closed training camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where coach Jose Peseiro has been perfecting his strategies for the challenges ahead.

Earlier on Sunday, the Super Eagles forced a 12-nil defeat down the throat of a local UAE club in a friendly played behind closed doors, with Ademola Lookman scoring four goals and Victor Osimhen netting a brace.

Guinea will offer a stiffer challenge than that when they square up against the Eagles inside the Baniyas Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Nigeria have only won one of their last four games against the Guineans – a 1-0 triumph earned courtesy of a Kenneth Omeruo strike at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

The Super Eagles will leave Abu Dhabi after that friendly match and return to Lagos before jetting out to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire’s capital, where they will play their group matches.

Nigeria’s first match at the AFCON is a tricky tie against giant-killing Equatorial Guinea at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara on January 14.