Guinea Bissau’s captain Jonas Mendes has been named in the squad for the African Cup of Nations finals, making it his fourth consecutive appearance at the tournament. The officials announced the 25-man squad for the upcoming event in Ivory Coast on Sunday.
However, Alexandre Mendy, the top scorer in Ligue 2 with 12 goals for Caen, has turned down a call-up despite playing in a World Cup qualifier last month.
Mendes, aged 34, has been the goalkeeper in all but two of the nine matches played by the small west African country at the finals since their debut in 2017.
Coach Balde Cande has named the squad for the tournament, with Edgar Ie, who made a single appearance for Portugal in 2017, included. He has been allowed to switch his allegiance to Guinea Bissau as his previous appearance was in a friendly international.
Striker Ze Turbo, based in Russia, has also returned to the squad after being left out of last month’s World Cup qualifiers.
The team will meet for pre-tournament preparations in Bissau on Jan. 2 and play a friendly against Mali in Bamako on Jan. 6.
Guinea-Bissau will face hosts Ivory Coast in the opening match on Jan. 13 and will also meet Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria in Group A.
The squad includes goalkeepers Ouparine Djoco (Royal Francs Borains), Fernando Embadje (Alcanenense), and Jonas Mendes (Kalamata, Greece). Defenders Fali Cande (Metz), Marcelo Djalo (Palencia), Jefferson Encada (Pharco), Edgar Ie (Basaksehir), Houboulang Mendes (Almeria), Nanu (Samsunspor), Nito (Maritimo), and Opa Sangante (Dunkerque) are also part of the squad.
Midfielders Janio Bikel (Gaziantep), Morreto Cassama (Omonia Nicosia), Dalcio (Apoel Nicosia), Carlos Mane (Kayserispor), Sori Mane (Academico Viseu), Carlos Mendes (Bolton Wanderers), Mauro Rodrigues (Yverdon Sport), and Alfa Semedo (Al Tai) along with forwards Mama Balde (Olympique Lyonnais), Franculino (Midtjylland), Zinho Gano (Zulte Waregem), Famana Quizera (Academico Viseu), Marciano Sanca (Almeria), and Zé Turbo (FC Pari Nizhniy Novgorod) make up the rest of the squad.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
