Teenager Franculino Dju scored the winner as Guinea-Bissau completed their most successful Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign following their 2-1 victory over Sierra Leone.

Denmark-based Dju scored after 48 minutes of the Group A match in Bissau, beating several opponents and firing the ball past custodian Mohamed Kamara and into the far corner of the net.

After six minutes, Amadou Bakayoko, who plays for Scottish Premiership club Dundee, nodded Sierra Leone in front from a corner.

Guinea-Bissau levelled after 35 minutes, thanks to a powerful header from Fernando ‘Nito’ Gomes following a free-kick that gave Camara no chance.

Only pride was on the line, as Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau had already snatched the two qualifying spots from Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe.

Guinea-Bissau, also known as the Wild Dogs, will compete in their fourth consecutive Cup of Nations, a remarkable turnaround after decades of having an extremely weak national team.

The victory over Sierra Leone increased their group point total to 13, three more than their previous best campaign. They qualified three times, once with ten points and twice with nine.

Local Baciro Cande has coached all four successful campaigns, and his goal for the January 13-February 11 tournament in the Ivory Coast will be to win the finals for the first time.

Before the game began, there was a minute of silence to remember the victims of the Moroccan earthquake, which claimed at least 2,681 lives, according to the interior ministry.