Guinea-Bissau’s head coach, Baciro Cande, voiced his disappointment following his team’s 1-0 defeat against Nigeria, marking the conclusion of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The Djurtus, experiencing their third defeat in the tournament, were unable to secure a victory at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Monday night.
The West African side, making their third appearance in the AFCON finals since their debut in 2017, struggled to make an impact in this edition, failing to register a single win.
Cande acknowledged the shortcomings in his team’s performance and expressed regret over their inability to meet expectations in Cote d’Ivoire.
In a post-match press conference, Cande candidly addressed the disappointing results, stating, “Three outings which all ended in defeats, these are not the results we were hoping for.”
The coach admitted that Guinea-Bissau fell short of showcasing their true potential on the continental stage, leading to their elimination from the competition.
Cande, however, remained resilient in his outlook for the future, emphasizing the need to regroup and improve. Despite the setbacks, he conveyed a commitment to returning stronger in subsequent competitions.
He remarked, “Now we will get back to work and come back stronger,” signaling the determination to learn from the experience and build a more competitive team.
The disappointment of Guinea-Bissau’s AFCON campaign underscores the challenges faced by the team in a highly competitive tournament.
As Cande looks ahead to the team’s future endeavors, the focus will likely shift to addressing weaknesses and fostering growth to enhance their performance on the African football stage.
