Equatorial Guinea will square off against Guinea-Bissau at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023). With both teams setting their sights on three valuable points, it'll be interesting to see how things pan out when it's all said and done.
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau overview
This Group A match will take place at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium on Thursday January 18. Kick-off time is 3 pm WAT.
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea held their own against Nigeria in their AFCON opener. They drew first blood in their clash with the Super Eagles, but were unable to hold on for the win.
Given that Juan Micha's men have a tough round 3 clash with hosts Ivory Coast, they can't afford to drop points in this clash.
Guinea-Bissau
On the other hand, Guinea-Bissau suffered a 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast in their opening match. They now find themselves at the bottom of the group table. This is also a must-win for Baciro Candé's troops, if they intend to make it through to the knockout stages.
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau head to head
This will be the third encounter between these teams across all competitions. As it stands, Guinea-Bissau have a perfect two in as many clashes with Equatorial Guinea.
These teams last met in a friendly match in March 2022, where the Djurtus won by three unreplied goals.
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau potential lineups
The 4-2-3-1 formation worked quite well for Equatorial Guinea in their AFCON opener. Juan Micha is expected to adopt the same formation on Thursday, with Emilio Nsue being a lone striker.
On the other hand, Guinea-Bissau are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Ouparine Djoco starting between the sticks.
These are our probable Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau lineups:
Equatorial Guinea
Goalkeeper: Jesus Owono.
Defenders: Carlos Akapo, Saul Coco, Esteban Obiang, Basilio Ndong.
Midfielders: Pablo Ganet, Federico Bikoro, Iban Salvador, José Machin, Jannick Buyla.
Forwards: Emilio Nsue.
Guinea-Bissau
Goalkeeper: Ouparine Djoco.
Defenders: Fali Candé, Marcelo Djaló, Opa Sangate, Jefferson Encada.
Midfielders: Alfa Semedo, Janio Bikel, Moreto Cassama.
Forwards: Carlos Mané, Mama Baldé, Mauro Rodrigues.
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau tactical analysis
With their stalemate against the Super Eagles, Equatorial Guinea extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 matches. Although they won just six of those games, Juan Micha's side have proven to be a tough team to beat.
Interestingly, while Equatorial Guinea aren't a particularly high-scoring side, they found the net in 10 of their last 11 matches.
In contrast, Guinea-Bissau have lost back-to-back games, conceding eight times in the process. They managed one win in their last five matches across all competitions. On the positive side, Baciro Candé's side averaged a goal per game in their last nine matches.
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau prediction
To be fair, Guinea-Bissau won the previous two skirmishes between these outfits. However, their recent form doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.
Candé's men lost three of their last five games, they'll have the tough task of ending Equatorial Guinea's 11-match unbeaten run. While we have no doubt that Guinea-Bissau will give everything they have to win this match, we are leaning towards Equatorial Guinea for the victory.
Where to watch Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau live
AfroSport TV and Supersport Football Plus will broadcast this match on TV for fans who live in Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile those who reside in Guinea-Bissau can tune into Canal+ CAN and Supersport for live coverage of this game.
