Guinea President, Mamadi Doumbouya has directed the Syli Nationale players to win the 2021 AFCON or return money invested in them
By Kehinde Okeowo
Guinea President, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya has directed his country’s national football team, nicknamed Syli Nationale, to either win the 2021 AFCON billed to be held in Cameroon or be prepared to refund money spent on them.
The Guinean national team are in Group B of this year’s African soccer tournament paired alongside Malawi, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.
According to ModernGhana as per African Insider, Guinea President Mamadi Doumbouya said the country has invested so much in the players and therefore, deserves to be rewarded with the trophy after the tournament.
Warning that if they fail to bring back the Cup, they will refund the money invested in them by the country.
While receiving members of the team, the Syli Nationale at the presidential palace, Doumbouya said, “The cup or you pay back the money that will be invested in you.”
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Guinea have never won the African cup of the nation, even when they had the generation that included the talented Abdulaye Titi Camara, with their best finish in the tournament being a runner-up place in 1976.
They have since then reached the quarter-finals on four occasions in 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2015.
The west African country made their footballing debut in an away friendly on 9 May 1962, losing 2–1 against Togo.
In 1963, Guinea entered its first qualification campaign for an Africa Cup of Nations, the 1963 tournament in Ghana was a two-legged qualifier against Nigeria.
They drew the first leg 2–2 away on 27 July, and on 6 October won 1–0 at home to win 3–2 on aggregate. They were, however, disqualified for adding Guinean officials to their squad in the second leg.
Mamadi Doumbouya is an army colonel serving as the interim president of Guinea. He led a coup d’état on 5 September 2021 which ousted the civilian regime of Alpha Condé.
Guinea squad for AFCON 2021
Goalkeepers: Aly Keita (Ostersund, Sweden), Ibrahima Kone (Hibernians, Malta), Moussa Camara (Horoya, Guinea).
Defenders: Saidou Sow (St Etienne, France), Ibrahima Conte (Niort, France), Florentin Pogba (Sochaux, France), Ousmane Kante (Paris FC, France), Mohamed Aly Camara (Young Boys, Switzerland), Pa Konate (Botev Plovdiv, Bulgaria), Issiaga Sylla (Toulouse, France), Fode Camara (Horoya, Guinea), Gaoussou Yousouf Siby (Wakrya, Guinea), Mikael Dyrestam (Sarpsborg 08, Norway).
Midfielders: Amadou Diawara (Roma, Italy), Ibrahima Cisse (Seriang, Belgium), Mory Konate (Sint-Truidense, Belgium), Ibrahima Sory Conte (Bnei Sakhnin, Israel), Ilaix Moriba (RB Leipzig), Mamadou Kane (Neftci, Azerbaijan), Morlaye Sylla (Horoya, Guinea), Aguibou Camara (Olympiacos, Greece), Naby Keita (Liverpool, England).
Forwards: Seydouba Soumah (Kuwait SC, Kuwait), Morgan Guilavogui (Paris FC, France), Mamadou Diallo (Grenoble, France), Jose Kante (Kairat, Kazakhstan), Mohamed Bayo (Clermont France), Sory Kaba (OH Leuven, Belgium)
