The second round of matches in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers continues next week, and Djibouti will be hoping to get off the mark when they take on Guinea-Bissau on Monday evening.
With Djibouti not possessing a stadium that meets FIFA requirements to host an international match, this fixture will be played in Egypt at the Cario International Stadium.
Match preview
© Reuters
Djibouti are the fourth-lowest-ranked nation in Africa and we saw why that is in their first match of the competition when a star-studded Egyptian side handed them a comprehensive beating.
Mohamed Salah was at his destructive best in that match and single-handedly took the match out of reach of Djibouti with two goals in each half before Mostafa Mohamed and Trezeguet completed the 6-0 rout.
With that result, the Shoremen of the Red Sea saw their recent record in competitive matches extended to three consecutive defeats while they have not won a match in regulation time since December 2019.
Earlier this year, Djibouti failed to get past the preliminary round of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, where they lost 5-2 on aggregate to South Sudan and against an improving opponent here, the hosts' chances in this one do not look too good.
Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau have been one of the most improved teams on the African continent over the last couple of years, and they got their World Cup qualification campaign off to a positive start as well.
The African wild dogs held Burkina Faso, who are ranked almost fifty places above them in the world, to a 1-1 draw on Friday evening, with Manuel Balde scoring the all-important opening goal in the first 20 minutes.
They are now unbeaten in their last three competitive matches, including back-to-back victories over Sao Tome and Principe and Sierra Leone, which saw them secure qualification for the upcoming AFCON early in the New Year.
Since their first attempt back in 1998, Guinea-Bissau have never managed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and while Egypt are the out-and-out favourites to win this group, the visitors will want to keep the pressure on The Pharaohs until the two meet in week four.
Team News
Djibouti are expected to remain mainly unchanged for this match, with Yabe Siad and Moussa Araita forming the central defensive partnership in front of Sulait Luyima.
Abdi Idleh Hamza will play as the most advanced midfielder, while Mohamed Fouad Mohamed will be hoping to make the starting 11 after coming off the bench against Egypt last week.
Balde's goal last week should be enough to see him keep his place alongside Janio Bikel and Alfa Semedo in the Guinea-Bissau engine room, while Sori Mane will provide the cover for the defence as the deepest-lying midfielder.
Yverdon Sport's Mauro Rodrigues and Omonia's Moreto Cassama both made impressive cameos in the final ten minutes of the last match, and we could see one or both promoted to the starting lineup in this one.
Djibouti possible starting lineup:
Luyima; Farada, Isman, Araita, Warsama; Elabeh, Hamza, Hassan; Mohamed, Akinbinu, Mahabeh
Guinea-Bissau possible starting lineup:
Djoco; Encada, Djalo, Sangante, Nanu; Mane, Cassama, Semedo, Bikel, Balde; Rodrigues
We say: Djibouti 1-2 Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau have been steadily improving in recent times and could be a dark horse in this group. The visitors beat Nigeria earlier this year, and after holding Burkina Faso to a draw on the road last week, they are now unbeaten in their last three. Against one of the lowest-ranked teams on the continent, we are expecting the African wild dogs to claim their first win of the competition in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
