Djibouti vs Guinea Bissau Prediction: A win is expected for Bissau in both halves

This Monday, see the continuation of the second round of matches in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers, with Djibouti eager to secure their first points as they face Guinea-Bissau on Monday evening. Due to the absence of a FIFA-compliant stadium in Djibouti, the fixture is set to take place at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt. This arrangement ensures the match can proceed on neutral ground and adheres to international football standards despite the logistical challenges faced by Djibouti.

Djibouti currently holds the position as the fourth-lowest-ranked nation in Africa, and their vulnerability was evident in the first match of the competition. Facing a formidable Egyptian team, Djibouti suffered a comprehensive defeat, particularly at the hands of Mohamed Salah, who showcased his exceptional skills with two goals in each half. The final scoreline of 6-0 was further compounded by Mostafa Mohamed and Trezeguet, highlighting the immense challenge Djibouti faced against the star-studded opponent. This defeat extends Djibouti's recent record in competitive matches to three consecutive losses, with their last victory in regulation time dating back to December 2019. Earlier in the year, Djibouti faltered in the preliminary round of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, succumbing to a 5-2 aggregate loss to South Sudan.

Guinea-Bissau has notably emerged as one of the most improved teams on the African continent in recent years, and they began their World Cup qualification campaign on a positive note. In their previous match, the African wild dogs held Burkina Faso, a team ranked nearly fifty places above them globally, to a commendable 1-1 draw. Manuel Balde's early goal proved crucial in securing this valuable result within the first 20 minutes of the match. With an unbeaten record in their last three competitive matches, including consecutive victories over Sao Tome and Principe and Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau has showcased consistent and noteworthy performances. These triumphs also granted them qualification for the upcoming AFCON early in the New Year. Despite previous attempts dating back to 1998, Guinea-Bissau has never succeeded in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup. While Egypt stands as the clear favorite to lead the group, Guinea-Bissau aims to maintain pressure on The Pharaohs until their anticipated encounter in week four of the qualifiers.

Guinea-Bissau's consistent improvement makes them a potential dark horse in this group. With a noteworthy victory against Nigeria earlier in the year and a commendable draw on the road against Burkina Faso last week, they have maintained an unbeaten streak in their last three matches. Now, facing one of the lowest-ranked teams on the continent, expectations are high for the African wild dogs to secure their first win of the World Cup qualification competition in this upcoming match.