Guinea-Bissau kicked off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a 1-0 triumph over Eswatini on Thursday night at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro. Bura’s early goal proved decisive, securing the African Wild Dogs a valuable win as they now turn their focus to their next Group I encounter against Mozambique.
The home side wasted no time asserting their dominance, controlling possession from the opening whistle.
It only took 14 minutes for Guinea-Bissau to break the deadlock.
Carlos Mané, in a pivotal moment, delivered an incisive pass to Bura, who made no mistake, slotting the ball into the net to give his team an early and well-deserved lead.
Eswatini, known as Sihlangu Semnikati, found themselves on the back foot for much of the first half.
Although they tried to rally after falling behind, Guinea-Bissau’s defence, led by the composed Marcelo Djalo and Opa Sangante, held firm, keeping the visitors at bay.
Despite Eswatini’s efforts, the score remained 1-0 at halftime, with Guinea-Bissau showing resilience and organization.
As the second half began, Guinea-Bissau continued to control the tempo, holding onto their slender advantage.
Coach Luis Boa Morte made a key substitution in the 64th minute, bringing on Sambinha to reinforce the defensive line and maintain their compact shape.
The African Wild Dogs showed discipline, keeping Eswatini’s attacking threat under control.
Eswatini coach Zdravko Logarusic responded by making attacking changes, introducing Andy Magagula and Mthokozisi Gwebu in the 70th minute in a bid to chase the equaliser
Their fresh legs injected some urgency into the visitors’ play, but Guinea-Bissau’s defence stood resolute.
With each passing minute, the home side’s backline, bolstered by substitutes and smart tactical adjustments, repelled Eswatini’s forward movements.
In the final stages of the match, Guinea-Bissau made additional changes to freshen up their lineup, with Bura making way for S. Mané in the 75th minute.
The adjustments paid off, as Guinea-Bissau maintained their defensive solidity while continuing to threaten on the counterattack.
Eswatini, despite their best efforts, could not find a way past the determined hosts
Guinea-Bissau’s disciplined performance ensured they claimed all three points, sealing a 1-0 victory and giving them a strong start in Group I of the AFCON qualifiers.
Looking ahead, Guinea-Bissau will aim to build on this momentum when they travel to Mozambique for their next match on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Eswatini will be seeking redemption as they prepare to host Mali in Mbombela, South Africa, hoping to register their first points of the qualification campaign.
Match Summary:
Guinea-Bissau (1)
Goal: Bura (14’)
Eswatini (0) 0
Guinea-Bissau Line-up: Manuel Baldé, Marcelo Djalo (Sambinha 64′), Opa Sangante, Nanu, Jefferson Encada, Alfa Semedo, Bura (S. Mané 75′), Carlos Mané (Dalcio 71′), Mama Baldé (Jardel 75′), Zidane Banjaqui, Franculino Dju (Ze Tubo 73′)
Eswatini Line-up: Mathabela, Masangane, Quiton, Matse, Ndzinisa (Gwebu 70′), N.S. Dlamini (Mkhontfo 80′), Manana, Thwala, Figuareido (Magagula 70′), Matsebula, Gamedze
Guinea-Bissau will be encouraged by their solid start, while Eswatini will need to regroup ahead of their next match as the road to AFCON 2025 continues.
