Guinea coach Paulo Duarte appears to be in a conundrum after former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita and striker Morgan Guilavogui turned down call-ups for the upcoming 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Bafana Bafana and Kenya.
The West Africans will be in Soweto to face South Africa at Orlando Amstel Arena on September 26. They will then host Benni McCarthy‘s Kenya in Conakry five days later.
But Duarte’s final squad will be without Keita, who now turns out for Ferencváros TC in the Hungarian top-flight league, as well as Real Salt Lake City attacker Guilavogui. The Portuguese coach explained the players’ absence as the Syli Nationale look for an encouraging start to the qualification campaign after missing out on the 2025 AFCON.
“There’s no point in talking about the same thing every time. Some players aren’t part of the selection process, others aren’t giving answers,” said Duarte as per Guinee 360.
“Naby Keita remains an option. I have no problem with him, which is why he was included in the preliminary squad. He’s a professional whom I respect a lot. But he’s not on this list.”
In what appears to be a crisis in the Guinea camp, Duarte said Guilavogui was injured, yet he played for his Major League Soccer club last Sunday.
“He said he’s injured because of his knee, even though he played four days ago. He told me his knee isn’t good enough for a long trip. So, he declined the invitation,” explained Duarte, who has previously coached Burkina Faso, Togo and Gabon.
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Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy has been included and is expected to lead the Guinea attack. It would be a huge test for Bafana defenders after coach Pitso Mosimane selected Ime Okon, Olwethu Makhanya, Khulumani Ndamane and Orlando Pirates’ Lebone Seema as centre-backs in his final squad.
France-born Guirassy enters this international period in top form, with two goals and as many assists in three Bundesliga appearances, as well as two goals in one UEFA Champions League match.
Other prominent figures in the Syli Nationale include Madiou Keita, Saidou Sow and former Barcelona central midfielder Ilaix Moriba, who is now with La Liga side Celta Vigo.
But joining Keita as absentees are Mohamed Mady Camara, Cheick Oumar Condé, Dembo Sylla, Morgan Guilavogui and Issiaga Sylla.
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