We will rather die than to lose to Super Eagles – Guinea Bissau

Captain of the Guinea Bissau national team, Jonas Azevedo Mendes, has said that they will rather ‘die’ than see themselves losing their match against the Super Eagles.

Mendes, who is the team’s first-choice goalkeeper, said they will battle the Super Eagles with all their might and they were determined to ensure they do not go home after the tie.

Asked if there was any player in the Eagles team they were targeting, Mendes said, “we know Nigeria is a good team. It will be a mistake to target any particular player. We are facing all of them with equal attention. ”

Guinea Bissau the fourth team in AFCON group B. they played a draw against Sudan, controversially lost to Egypt. They are currently ranked 6th among the best losers. A win over the Super Eagles will see them qualify for the round of 16.

Recall that the NFA sacked Gernot Rohr, to appoint Augustine Eguavoen as the temporary Manager of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team.

Prior to his recent appointment, Augustine had previously served in the interim capacity in 2010, was also the coach of the team that won a bronze medal at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

He was appointed the caretaker coach of the Nigeria national team in June 2005 before moving to South Africa, to take over Premier Soccer League side Black Leopards in March 2008.

In 2009 he left the Black leopards to coach   Enyimba International F.C in Aba. where he led the team to a 3rd-place finish in the league and won the Federation Cup.

In June 2010, the Nigeria Football Federation asked Augustine Eguavoen to replace Lars Lagerbäck temporary, he was however appointed as the head coach of the Nigeria national under-23 football team in August 2010.

He was expected to qualify the team for the 2012 London Olympic Games, but they were knocked out in the group stage. On 5 December 2011, he resigned from his job following the failure to secure the Olympics ticket.

Augustine managed several local teams in the National League such as Sharks F.C, COD United, Bendel Insurance, Gombe United and the Sunshine Stars F.C.

With his years of experience as a footballer and manager, He is expected to deliver something tangible for the Nigerian National Team in the ongoing AFCON.