Guinea captain Keita returns for 2026 World Cup qualifiers, injured Guirassy named

Published

11 months ago

November 8, 2023

Guinea captain Naby Keita has been named in the country’s 23-man squad for this month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uganda and Botswana after recovering from injury.

In-form Stuttgart forward Serhou Guirassy was also named in the squad despite missing his club’s last three games with a hamstring problem.

Additionally, the 21-year-old defender Naby Oularé from Boluspor in the Turkish second division is set to make his debut in the national selection.

Notably, this list sees the return of their captain Keïta for the two matches scheduled to take place against Uganda on November 17 and Botswana on November 21.

After being sidelined due to injuries during recent national team matches, Kéïta, the talented midfielder from Werder Bremen, will be making a comeback as they start their World Cup campaign.

His presence is poised to offer the Syli National a significant boost as they prepare for these crucial fixtures.

Coach Kaba Diawara opted to call up Guirassy, despite the striker’s recent injury.

Guirassy has been a formidable presence in the Bundesliga this season, amassing an impressive 14 goals in just 8 games.

With the national Syli eager to regain the services of this Stuttgart star, his inclusion in the squad is a testament to his importance to the team.

Another standout returnee to the squad is the prolific striker Mohamed Bayo, who is currently in dazzling form with Le Havre.

Over the weekend, he showcased his prowess by netting an impressive brace taking season’s tally to 14 goals so far.

The inclusion of other familiar names like Mory Konaté, Julian Jeanvier, and Mohamed Ali Camara further bolsters the Syli National squad.

The availability of the top players provides a major boost to Guinea as they aim to qualify for the global finals for the first time.

The Syli Nationale know topping such a competitive group would represent a monumental feat three years out from the 2026 tournament.

Coach Diawara will hope Keita, Bayo and Guirassy can fire Guinea to the double victory needed to edge closer to a maiden World Cup appearance.

Guinea have been played in a tough Group G where they will play Algeria, Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana and Somalia.

Only the nine group winners will automatically qualify for the finals in USA, Canada and Mexico – and one team will enter the FIFA play-off tournament

Squad

Goalkeepers:

Ibrahim Koné (Hibernians FC, Malta)
Aly Kéita (Ostersunds, Sweden)
Moussa Camara (Horoya AC, Guinea)

Defenders:

Sékou Oumar Sylla (SC Cambuur, Netherlands)
Naby Youssouf Oularé (Boluspor, Turkey)
Julian Jeanvier (Kayserispor, Turkey)
Saidou Sow (Strasbourg, France)
Abdourahmane Barry (Amiens SC, France)
Mohamed Ali Camara (Young Boys, Switzerland)
Dembo Sylla (Lorient, France)
Antoine Conté (Botev Plovdiv, Bulgaria)

Midfielders:

Amadou Diawara (Anderlecht, Belgium)
Abdoulaye Touré (Le Havre, France)
Seydouba Cissé (Leganes, Spain)
Mory Konaté (KV Malines, Belgium)
Moriba Kourouma (RB Leipzig, Germany)
Naby Kéita (SV Werder Bremen, Germany)

Forwards:

François Kamano (Abha FC, Saudi Arabia)
Morgan Guilavogui (RC Lens, France)
Karim Cissé (AS Saint-Étienne, France)
Aguibou Camara (Atromitos, Greece)
Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart, Germany)
Mohamed Bayo (Le Havre, France)

-Cafonline

We shall pick 2026 World Cup and 2025 AFCON tickets, NFF assures Nigerian government

Published

2 days ago

October 4, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress rose from its Annual General Meeting in Asaba on Friday and assured the Nigerian Government of its commitment to ensure that the Super Eagles qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The Nigerian team has had a poor head start in the series and has not won any of the four matches. There are six more matches to be played.

Only one of the the six teams will pick an automatic ticket even as Nigeria sat dangerously fifth in Group C. Their next match is away to group leaders, Rwanda on 17 March next year.

Another drop of points portends deep dangers as the Super Eagles have zero option other than to win all the remaining six matches. Two of those matches are potentially risky. These are the away duels with South Africa on 7 September and Lesotho on 5 October next year.

Both matches will be played in South Africa which also hosts Lesotho home games apart from the fact that Lesotho is geographically completely encircled by South Africa.

The quest to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is relatively easier as the Super Eagles are in the lead of the quartet that includes Benin Republic, Rwanda and Libya.

Two teams will qualify. Victory over Libya in the back-to-back clashes holding in the next few days will likely qualify Nigeria for Morocco 2025.

Nigeria’s World Cup Qualifying Fixtures

17 March 2025 – Rwanda v Nigeria
24 March 2025- Nigeria v Zimbabwe
1 Sept. 2025 – Nigeria v Rwanda
7 Sept. 2025 – South Africa v Nigeria
5 Oct. 2025 – Lesotho v Nigeria
12 Oct. 2025 – Nigeria v Benin Republic

Nigeria’s AFCON Cup Qualifying Fixtures

10 Oct. 2024 – Nigeria v Libya
15 Oct, 2024 – Libya v Nigeria
11 Nov. 2024 – Benin Republic v Nigeria
19 Nov. 2024 – Nigeria v Rwanda

World Cup

Messi returns to Argentina squad for World Cup qualifiers

Published

4 days ago

October 2, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Argentina have been boosted by the return of captain Lionel Messi for their CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia, the country’s football association said on Wednesday, after the 37-year-old recovered from an ankle injury.

Messi, who plays for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, was left out of Argentina’s squad for their World Cup Qualifiers against Chile and Colombia in August due to the injury which he sustained during the Copa America final.

Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 to win a record 16th Copa America title.

ARGENTINA SQUAD:

Goalkeepers – Geronimo Rulli, Walter Benitez, Juan Musso.

Defenders – Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Leonardo Balerdi, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico.

Midfielders – Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Giovani Lo Celso, Thiago Almada, Guido Rodriguez, Nico Paz.

Forwards – Nicolas Gonzalez, Lautaro Martinez, Alejandro Garnacho, Julian Alvarez, Valentin Carboni, Valentin Carboni, Paulo Dybala and Lionel Messi.

World Cup

FIFA’s big stick falls on Argentina

Published

1 week ago

September 28, 2024

Kunle Solaja

World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Chile - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - September 5, 2024 Argentina's Emiliano Martinez celebrates with the Copa America's trophy after the match REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle/File Photo

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez has been suspended for two matches by FIFA for “offensive behaviour”, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said in a statement on Friday.

Martinez will miss Argentina’s next South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup against Venezuela and Bolivia in October.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper has been suspended over incidents in matches against Chile and Colombia earlier this month.

In the Chile game, his first since winning the Copa America in the United States, Martinez celebrated by making a lewd gesture with the trophy, as he did after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

After the loss to Colombia, the 32-year-old hit a local television camera.

“Damian Emiliano Martinez is being held responsible for his offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play,” the AFA said in a statement, adding that it disagreed with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision

-Reuters