#12. Guinea 🇬🇳
Population: 13,607,249
Nickname: Syli National
Appearances: 14th
Last Appearance: 2012
Coach: Kaba Diawara
Best AFCON results: Runners-up (1976)
Skipper: Naby Keita
Player to watch: Serhou Guirassy
Region: WAFU
CAF Rankings: 15th
FIFA Rankings: 80
Most caps: Pascal Feindouno
Top scorer: Ibrahima Kandia Diallo
The Syli National have been regulars at the AFCON recently as they make their 14th appearance in the illustrious competition.
Guinea finished second to Egypt in the qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON with 10 points including home and away victories against Ethiopia.
The Syli National lost 1-0 to Botswana in the second game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as they won 2-1 in the opening game against Uganda.
Guinea has been qualifying from their group in recent AFCONs. In a group with Cameroon, Senegal and the Gambia, Syli National has the chance to qualify for the next stage probably as one of the best-placed third teams.
Skipper Naby Keita has not been fully fit enough for Werder Bremen as he is yet to play a single minute in their last 11 games. His experience will be crucial as he remains one of the best players for Guniea.
Serhou Guirassy, one of the best strikers in Europe will be one that opponents will keep an eye on as his movement, positioning and finishing can harm any team at any time.
Expectations at home aren’t that high but a quarter-final finish will be a huge success.
The Core of the Team
Ibrahim Kone will continue as Guinea’s number-one goalkeeper in AFCON 2023.
21-year-old Saidi Sow of Strassboug will lead Guinea alongside Janvier at the back.
Amadou Diawara, Abdoulaye Toure and Naby Keita will link the defence and the attack.
Illax Moriba, Kamano and Mo Bayo will lead Guinea’s attack.
Probable 11
4-2-3-1
Kone
Conte, Janvier, Sow, Sylla
Diawara, Keita, Moriba
Camara, Kamano, Guirrasy
Notable Legends
Souleymane Cherif, Pascal Feindouno, Ibrahima Kandia Diallo, Naby Keita, Papa Camara, Petit Sory, Mory Kone
Expectations: Round 16
Fixtures
•Cameroon v Guinea
•Guinea v Gambia
•Guinea v Senegal
