Bullish Sudan eye Guinea-Bissau scalp as they open AFCON group campaign

Sudan will battle it out with Guinea-Bissau in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group D match at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua on Tuesday.
Kick-off is at 10:00 pm EAT.
The Falcons of Jediane are hoping to bring back the glory days by going all the way and clinching their second AFCON title in their ninth appearance in the continental tournament.
Forward Mohamed Abdelrahman, who scored as Sudan secured their spot in the 2021 edition with a win over South Africa last year, and experienced goalkeeper Ali Abu Eshrein are the key players for the Northeast African side.
Burhan Tia, the Sudan head coach, has warned that his side should not be underrated with the Falcons of Jediane having this competition in 1957.
“Our team is young, and we are building for the future. The spirit, ambition, and motivation will be our strong weapons in the tournament,” Tia told CAF Online.
“There is nothing impossible in football. The group might be strong, but with good preparations and concentration we will be able to make it to the knockout stage,” added Tia.
“We need to prove a point that we have developed and belong to the top group since we have won the AFCON trophy before.”
Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau are the least experienced side in the AFCON finals among the teams in Group D as they are making their third appearance in Africa’s biggest football event.
However, the Djurtus (African Wild Dogs) have players, who can hurt Sudan with AS Monaco midfielder Pele (Judilson Mamadu Tuncará Gomes) and former SC Braga winger Piqueti (Djassi Brito Silva) part of coach Baciro Cande’s side.
Guinea-Bissau will be without their captain Jonas Mendes when they face Sudan as the experienced goalkeeper is among the Djurtus players who have tested positive for Covid-19.
“The Djurtus are conducting their third training on Cameroonian soil ahead of our AFCON opener,” a statement read from the Football Federation of Guinea-Bissau read on Saturday.
“Mr. Baciro Cande has 18 players at his disposal as five more players have tested positive for Covid-19.
“At this time, besides Jonas Mendes, Jorginho Intima, Mimito Biai, Nanu, Leonel Alves, and Alfa Semedo, they are isolated from the rest and under medical control, even if they don’t present any symptoms.”
The last meeting between Sudan and Guinea-Bissau was on 15 November 2021.
The two teams played to a 0-0 draw in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.

REUTERS