Football in Guinea-Bissau

The sport of football in the country of Guinea-Bissau is run by the Football Federation of Guinea-Bissau. The association administers the national football team, as well as the national league.^[1] Association football (soccer) is the most popular sport in the country. Since the Portuguese navigator Nuno Tristão reached the local coast in 1446, but at the latest since the official foundation of the colony Bissau in 1753, the country was a Portuguese colony, and became officially independent only in 1975. To this day, football in Guinea-Bissau is therefore characterized by its Portuguese origins and relationships, for example through a number of affiliates of the Portuguese clubs Sporting CP and Benfica. Also, many Guinea-Bissau footballers play in Portugal.