Following their narrow defeat in the first semi-final of the TotalEnergies CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, Morlaye Cisse, the head coach of Guinea’s U23 team, has expressed an even stronger determination to secure a spot in the Paris Olympics.
Despite the 1-0 loss against holders Egypt in the semi-final, Guinea now faces the challenge of winning the upcoming play-off game on Friday in order to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Cisse acknowledged his team’s efforts and expressed disappointment with the match’s outcome.
“The match was fast-paced, and the Egyptian team capitalized on their opportunity. However, we are still determined to qualify for the Olympics,” Cisse emphasized.
The coach pointed out that although Guinea had created scoring opportunities, they failed to convert them.
“There was a lot of emotion on the pitch, and my players are understandably disappointed, some even shedding tears,” he added.
Cisse took the opportunity to apologize to the people of Guinea for not guiding the team to the final. He urged the Guinean population to continue dreaming big and support the young players, recognizing the country’s immense football potential.
During the post-match press conference, the coach’s emotions were evident, and he made a promise to his team and the nation.
“We will work tirelessly to secure a victory in the third-place match and secure our qualification for the Olympics,” Cisse declared.
With an intensified hunger for Olympic qualification, Guinea’s U23 team will strive to bounce back from their semi-final defeat and secure their well-deserved place in the prestigious Paris Olympics.
