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Panafrican News Agency
2017 AFCON: Guinea Bissau Coach says his team did well, despite exit
Franceville, Gabon (PANA) - Despite being knocked out of the ongoing 2017 AFCON in Gabon, Team Guinea Bissau believes they have done well.
Guinea Bissau, making their first nations cup outing in Gabon, drew 1-1 with the host nation in the opening match; lost 2-1 to Cameroon and lost 2-0 to Burkina Faso in the last Group A match.
This record earned Guinea Bissau, rated 69 in the FIFA latest world ranking, only one point, bottom of the table and exit from the competition.
Burkina Faso and Cameroon managed five points each, two more than Gabon who painfully bid farewell after drawing all their three group matches.
But their Coach Baciro Cande insists his players can “hold their heads highs” after the loss to Burkina Faso on Sunday in Franceville ended their fairy-tale run at the Gabon 2017.
According to the CAF media outlet, "Despite exiting the competition, ‘Djurtus’ as the Guineans are nicknamed, won the hearts of many with their spirited performances in all three matches which saw them snatch a last gasp equalizer against Gabon in the opening match, before succumbing 1-2 to Cameroon.
“My team did their best, unfortunately we couldn’t go far. We had some chances but we were not realistic in front of goal. We conceded goals which were as a result of mistakes,” Cande said.
One of four home-grown coaches at the tournament, Cande admits that his side were undone by experience in all their games, citing, specifically the 1-2 loss to Cameroon.
“What we missed is experience. We could have snatched a point against Cameroon. We had chances in that game, but all the Cameroonian players play in Europe and the experience was there. They (Cameroon) are a strong team and matured.
“Against Burkina Faso, we missed the experience again. We will continue to work harder for the future. Each match serves an experience and each competition paves the way for greater experience.
“We are going back home with an aim to qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations, but also all CAF competitions so that our football will be developed in all categories,” concluded Cande.
Below is the final Group A table:
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Burkina Faso 3 1 2 0 4 2 2 5
2 Cameroon 3 1 2 0 3 2 1 5
3 Gabon (H) 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3
4 Guinea-Bissau 3 0 1 2 2 5 -3 1
-0- PANA VAO 23Jan2017
Guinea Bissau, making their first nations cup outing in Gabon, drew 1-1 with the host nation in the opening match; lost 2-1 to Cameroon and lost 2-0 to Burkina Faso in the last Group A match.
This record earned Guinea Bissau, rated 69 in the FIFA latest world ranking, only one point, bottom of the table and exit from the competition.
Burkina Faso and Cameroon managed five points each, two more than Gabon who painfully bid farewell after drawing all their three group matches.
But their Coach Baciro Cande insists his players can “hold their heads highs” after the loss to Burkina Faso on Sunday in Franceville ended their fairy-tale run at the Gabon 2017.
According to the CAF media outlet, "Despite exiting the competition, ‘Djurtus’ as the Guineans are nicknamed, won the hearts of many with their spirited performances in all three matches which saw them snatch a last gasp equalizer against Gabon in the opening match, before succumbing 1-2 to Cameroon.
“My team did their best, unfortunately we couldn’t go far. We had some chances but we were not realistic in front of goal. We conceded goals which were as a result of mistakes,” Cande said.
One of four home-grown coaches at the tournament, Cande admits that his side were undone by experience in all their games, citing, specifically the 1-2 loss to Cameroon.
“What we missed is experience. We could have snatched a point against Cameroon. We had chances in that game, but all the Cameroonian players play in Europe and the experience was there. They (Cameroon) are a strong team and matured.
“Against Burkina Faso, we missed the experience again. We will continue to work harder for the future. Each match serves an experience and each competition paves the way for greater experience.
“We are going back home with an aim to qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations, but also all CAF competitions so that our football will be developed in all categories,” concluded Cande.
Below is the final Group A table:
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Burkina Faso 3 1 2 0 4 2 2 5
2 Cameroon 3 1 2 0 3 2 1 5
3 Gabon (H) 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3
4 Guinea-Bissau 3 0 1 2 2 5 -3 1
-0- PANA VAO 23Jan2017
