Football: Soccer-Guinea Bissau skipper Mendes to make fourth Cup of Nations appearance, Mendy turns down call-up

BISSAU (Reuters) – Guinea Bissau captain Jonas Mendes will participate at a fourth successive African Cup of Nations finals after being named in their 25-man squad for next month’s tournament in Ivory Coast, officials said on Sunday.

However, leading Ligue 2 striker Alexandre Mendy has turned down a call-up even though he played in a World Cup qualifier last month. Mendy’s 12 goals for Caen make him the leading marksman in the French second division.

Mendes, 34, has kept goal in all but two of the nine matches the small west African country has played at the finals following their debut in 2017.

Mendy is the only significant absentee from the squad named by coach Balde Cande, who takes charge at his fourth successive tournament.

Also included is defender Edgar Ie, who made a single appearance for Portugal in 2017 but because it was a friendly international he has been allowed to switch his allegiance to the country of his birth. The 29-year-old made his Guinea Bissau debut in June.

Russian-based striker Ze Turbo returns after being left out of last month’s World Cup qualifiers.

The squad will meet up on Jan. 2 for pre-tournament preparations in Bissau and play a friendly against Mali in Bamako on Jan. 6.

Guinea-Bissau take on hosts Ivory Coast in the opening match at the tournament on Jan. 13 and also meet Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria in Group A.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ouparine Djoco (Royal Francs Borains), Fernando Embadje (Alcanenense), Jonas Mendes (Kalamata, Greece)

Defenders: Fali Cande (Metz), Marcelo Djalo (Palencia), Jefferson Encada (Pharco), Edgar Ié (Basaksehir), Houboulang Mendes (Almeria), Nanu (Samsunspor), Nito (Maritimo), Opa Sangante (Dunkerque)

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), Alfa Semedo (Al Tai)

Forwards: Mama Balde (Olympique Lyonnais), Franculino (Midtjylland), Zinho Gano (Zulte Waregem), Famana Quizera (Academico Viseu), Marciano Sanca (Almeria), Zé Turbo (FC Pari Nizhniy Novgorod).

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)