The African Cup of Nations is just around the corner. Looking ahead to the opening match of this grand tournament, we have an intriguing encounter between the host, Ivory Coast, and the always challenging Guinea-Bissau. Both teams have already shared their expectations for this inaugural match.

Guinea-Bissau's forward, Zinho Gano, discussed what it means to debut against Ivory Coast, kicking off this AFCON edition after being the top scorer in the qualifiers for his team with four goals. He aims to pave the way for his team to advance to the knockout stages.

"There's no pressure on us; on the contrary, it's an honor to play the opening match and see over 60,000 people in the stadium for the game. We're professionals, and living this moment is a dream for us," affirmed the Guinean forward.

With no wins in their AFCON history, the forward highlighted that as their goal, saying, "Our first target is to win our opening match and then progress to the group stage. I know it's tough in a group with Ivory Coast and Nigeria, but in football, anything is possible."

Facing these two African football giants in their group doesn't paint the best picture, but within the team, the Zulte Waregem forward uses it as motivation, stating, "It's an opportunity to showcase what we're made of and the progress we've made."

Although they're not the favorites in the group, they'll strive to upset the party, surprising the African giants. This will offer a glimpse into Guinea-Bissau's recent development and their push for a successful campaign in the 2023 African Cup of Nations, securing a promising future.