Jefferson Encada of Pharco has secured a spot in Guinea-Bissau’s official 27-man squad for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The team is gearing up for a thrilling start as they face hosts Cote D’Ivoire in the opening game of the tournament.

Having joined Pharco in January 2022, Encada is set to participate in his second AFCON, following his debut in the previous edition held in Cameroon. In that tournament, he played 77 minutes in a hard-fought 1-0 defeat to Egypt.

Guinea-Bissau, making their third consecutive AFCON appearance, initially qualified for the tournament for the first time in Gabon in 2017. However, this time around, they are aiming to achieve a historic milestone by advancing beyond the group stage for the first time in their AFCON history in Cote D’Ivoire. The inclusion of players like Encada adds depth and experience to their squad as they embark on this challenging journey in the AFCON 2023.