Guinea Bissau coach Baciro Cande will have more reason than most to have a fine 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon next month.
Cande has selected strong 35 man provisional squad for the tournament that includes the best young talent in the tiny West African Nation who are seen as the future of the Djurtus.
This includes Portugal-based Pele from Benfica and former Everton star Francisco Junior in a team that includes nine new players with his squad entirely made of European based players.
Missing in the team are two players with Guinea Bissau roots who the coach has not been able to add ,namely Barcelona’s Edgar le and Leeds’ United teenager Ronald Vieria.
Guinea Bissau will play the opening match aganist hosts Gabon in Libreville on 14th January having eliminated former champions Zambia and East Africa giants Kenya in the qualifiers.
Djutus have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Gabon, Burkina Faso and Cameroon for the Africa biggest tournament.
Guinea Bissau squad:
Goalkeepers: Papa Masse Mbaye Fall (CD Orellana Costa Dulce, Spain), Jonas Mendes (Salgueiros, Portugal), Edouard Mendy (Stade Reims, France)
Defenders: Balde (Sporting Lisbon B, Portugal), Mamadu Cande (Tondela, Portugal), Eliseu Cassama (Rio Ave, Portugal), Eridson (Freamunde, Portugal), Emmanuel Mendy (unattached), Formose Mendy (Red Star, France), Rudinilson Silva (unattached), Agostinho Soares (Sporting Covilha, Portugal), Juary Soares (Mafra, Portugal),
Midfielders: Abudu (Operário Lagoa, Portugal), Bocundji Cá (unattached), Francisco Júnior (Stromsgodset, Norway), Jean Paul Mendy (US Quevilly-Rouen, France), Naní (Felgueiras, Portugal), Pele (Benfica B, Portugal), Zezinho (Levadiakos, Greece)
Strikers: Aldair (Olhanense, Portugal), Abel Camara (Belenenses, Portugal), Idrissa Camara (Avellino, Italy), Cícero (Pacos Ferreira, Portugal), Edelino Ié (Sporting Braga B, Portugal), Guti Almada (Real Quelez, Portugal), João Mário (Chaves, Portugal), Fredric Mendy (Ulsan Hyundai, South Korea), Mesca (AEL Limassol, Cyprus), Piqueti (Sporting Braga B, Portugal), Bruno Preira (Colomiers, France), Sami (Akhisar, Turkey) Sana (Academica Viseu, Portugal), Toni Silva (Levadiakos, Greece), Yazalde (Rio Ave, Portugal), Ze Turbo (Tondela, Portugal).
