In a statement released on Wednesday, Guinea-Bissau’s football federation announced that Baciro Cande, the long-standing head coach, will not have his contract renewed once it expires next month. Cande, who is 56 years old, has been at the helm for the national team since 2016 but will now be seeking new opportunities. This decision comes in the wake of the team’s poor performance at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast, where they were the first team to be eliminated from the competition after suffering defeats in all their Group A matches.
Despite this recent setback, Cande had previously been hailed as a national hero for guiding Guinea-Bissau to four consecutive qualifications for the Cup of Nations finals, a remarkable achievement considering the team’s historical struggles in African football. His efforts had earned him widespread recognition within the former Portuguese colony.
Prior to his tenure as head coach, Cande had also served as the coach of the national team, demonstrating his commitment and dedication to football development in Guinea-Bissau. However, following the disappointing campaign in the Ivory Coast, the decision not to renew his contract signifies a significant change for the team’s coaching staff.
It is worth noting that Cande is not the only coach to have faced consequences following the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Several other coaches, including Djamel Belmadi, Rui Vitoria, Tom Saintfiet, Chris Hughton, Jean-Louis Gasset, Adel Amrouche, and Jalel Kadri, have also left their respective positions in light of their teams’ performances in the competition. This indicates a wider trend of managerial changes in African football in the aftermath of the continental tournament.
Overall, the decision not to renew Baciro Cande’s contract reflects the football federation’s desire for a fresh start and new leadership for the national team. As the search for a new head coach begins, Guinea-Bissau will be hoping to usher in a new era of success and progress in their footballing journey.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Abidjanafn)
