We play for our family - Mane talks up shocking Super Eagles in AFCON 2023 cracker

Guinea-Bissau have turned up the pre-match mind games before Wednesday's AFCON clash with Nigeria, with striker Carlos Mane boldly declaring they want to beat the Super Eagles. 

Despite being eliminated, Mane insisted Guinea-Bissau are playing for pride and will be seeking all three points against a Nigerian side looking to seal a place in the knockout stage. 

Group A will come to an end later for Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau when both teams take to the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on Monday evening.

Ahead of the all-important clash, the Wild Dogs are eager to spring an ambush on Nigeria, whom Mane acknowledges have greater expectations as one of the tournament favourites. 

The forward spoke to the media in the pre-match press conference, where he stated that Guinea-Bissau are focused on leaving the competition on high.

"We want to play for pride, for our country and family,” Mane said per a post by Adepoju Tobi Samuel on X.com. 

“We want to finish the tournament with point(s) and we want to win tomorrow (today). I know the Super Eagles coach (Jose Peseiro), we have worked together, he is a very good coach but we are going to give our best tomorrow."

Guinea-Bissau's confidence could lead to an intriguing tussle, but Nigeria will be wary of a potential banana peel in the dead rubber.

Peseiro’s Nigeria currently sit second in Group A on four points heading into the final game of the group stage. 

The Super Eagles need at least a draw to progress to the knockout stage but could finish as group winners if they pick all three points depending on what happens in the other group match between leaders equatorial Guinea and hosts, Cote d’Ivoire.