Afcon 2023: ‘Even if it’s Nigeria’ – Zinho Gano aims to cause upsets with Guinea Bissau

Guinea-Bissau star forward Zinho Gano has revealed that the Djurtus’ primary target is to beat Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire to the knockout round ticket in Group A of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Gano who is the top scorer for Guinea-Bissau during the qualifiers with four goals, is hopeful that the Wild Dogs can surpass the first stage of the competition.

Despite being pitted against powerhouses Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea, the Wild Dogs remain unshaken.

However, they have yet to win a match or make it past the group stage at the continental championships.

The Djurtus will face Cote d’Ivoire in the opening match of the AFCON, followed by a face-off with Equatorial Guinea before trading tackles with Nigeria on matchday three.

Despite the steep challenge ahead, the star forward believes the Djurtus have the right to dream of doing the impossible in Cote d’Ivoire.

“Of course! We didn’t even win a match,” Gano told Cafonline.

“So our first goal is to win a match and then, to manage to get past the first stage. I know it is a difficult group with Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria, but we will see. In football, anything is possible.

“We know that these are very big countries, but this is an opportunity for us to show that we are there too. We have a good group and we are also here for the fourth time, it shows that we are worth something, too.

“Everyone must believe that anything is possible. Even for this opening match. With opening matches, there are always surprises, and why not, with us?

“We can win like everyone else, even if it’s Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, or Senegal. The match is 11 against 11 and anything is possible.”