Flavio Silva has officially made his debut for Guinea-Bissau after earning his first appearance for the national team during their 1-1 draw against Madagascar in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

The Kaizer Chiefs striker was introduced in the closing moments of the encounter, making his international debut after receiving an opportunity from head coach Emiliano Té.

Silva’s appearance came in the 90th minute, with the forward replacing Beto as Guinea-Bissau looked to finish the match strongly. Although he had very little time to influence the game, the appearance marked an important milestone in his international career.

The match was played at Stade d’Honneur in Meknes, Morocco, with Madagascar hosting the encounter after being unable to secure an approved stadium for the AFCON qualifying fixture.

Madagascar initially took the lead through Warren Caddy, who found the back of the net in the 59th minute to put his country ahead.

Guinea-Bissau responded strongly and eventually secured an equaliser through Renato Nhaga in the 84th minute, ensuring both teams shared the points.

Despite creating several opportunities, neither side managed to find a winning goal before the final whistle.

For Silva, however, the biggest talking point was his long-awaited opportunity to represent Guinea-Bissau at senior international level.

The 30-year-old received his first national team call-up after establishing himself at club level, but his international progress was interrupted by injuries that prevented him from featuring in the previous FIFA international window.

His inclusion in the latest squad demonstrated the confidence the national team technical crew has in his abilities, despite his limited playing time at Kaizer Chiefs this season.

Silva will now hope to earn more opportunities as Guinea-Bissau continue their AFCON qualification campaign.

The striker’s international debut also represents another important chapter in his football journey, as he looks to combine his experience at Kaizer Chiefs with his ambitions of making a lasting contribution to Guinea-Bissau’s national team.

Guinea-Bissau will face Madagascar again on November 17, 2026, in the return fixture in Bissau, where Silva could get another opportunity to increase his involvement with the national side. 

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