Preview: Guinea-Bissau vs Sierra Leone - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams with ground to make up in the CAF World Cup qualifiers will go head-to-head at Estadio 24 de Setembro on Thursday evening as Guinea-Bissau entertain the challenge of Sierra Leone.

Both sides have been on a rough patch in recent months, but their upcoming encounter provides a huge opportunity to get themselves back on track with a victory.

Match preview

In search of their first-ever appearance at football's biggest event, Guinea-Bissau got their World Cup qualifying journey underway with four points from the opening six available, and that was supposed to be the foundation for a strong campaign.

However, Luis Boa Morte's men were held to stalemates against Ethiopia and Egypt in their next two outings before suffering consecutive defeats against Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso during the March international break.

With six points picked up from as many matches this term, Os Dromedarios are fifth in Group A and are five points shy of Burkina Faso in the battle for second place behind Egypt, who are all but guaranteed to secure top spot.

Since their most recent qualifying involvement against Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau have lost friendly matchups against Burundi and Gabon to extend their losing streak to seven matches.

Thursday's hosts are also without a victory in 10 straight games across all competitions since kicking off their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying quest with a 1-0 triumph over Eswatini back in September 2024.

Like Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone are still awaiting their maiden World Cup berth but have given themselves a faint shot at making it through to next year's event in North America.

Mohamed Ajay Kallon's men have had a mixed qualifying campaign so far with two wins, two draws and two defeats so far off the back of a 1-0 loss to the Pharaohs of Egypt earlier this year.

Zizo's opener on the stroke of half time was enough to condemn the Leone Stars to defeat in Cairo and leave them with just one win from their most recent six outings across all competitions.

Sierra Leone are without a clean sheet during that span, which has been their biggest undoing and an urgent area of improvement heading into the final four qualifiers.

Aiming to secure only their first competitive away victory in two and a half years, Thursday's visitors have been underwhelming on their travels, leaving them in need of a change in fortunes if they are to mount a late charge for second place in the group, with Egypt almost unassailable.

Guinea-Bissau World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

Guinea-Bissau form (all competitions):

Sierra Leone World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

Sierra Leone form (all competitions):

Team News

Despite having been involved in both of Guinea-Bissau's last two goals, 28-year-old midfielder Alfa Semedo has not been called up for September's matches.

With four goals and an assist in his last six matches for club side Portimonense, Tamble is currently on a hot streak at the moment and is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Veteran forward Kei Kamara recently celebrated his 41st birthday and will be hoping to mark the occasion with an eighth international strike as he aims to end a lengthy goal drought spanning close to a year.

Nineteen-year-old Abdulay Juma Bah is set for his third cap for the visitors following an impressive last couple of months, during which he also earned a loan move to Nice from Manchester City.

Guinea-Bissau possible starting lineup:

Balde; Encada, Cande, Batista, Junior; Camara, Nhaga; Jardel, Dju, Monteiro; Beto

Sierra Leone possible starting lineup:

Sesay; Samadiya, Bah, Turay, Jalloh; Koroma, Dumbuya, M Kamara, Fornah; K Kamara, Bundu