In the midst of intense preparations for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Guinean national football team, known as the Syli National, received a morale-boosting visit from French international Paul Pogba.
Paul Pogba, who tested positive for DHEA early in the season, has been sidelined by Juventus pending his trial, now rescheduled for February 15, as reported by Turin media. The French midfielder, with 91 caps and 11 goals for the national team, is utilizing his time by supporting the national team of his ancestral homeland, Guinea, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Notably, his brothers, Florentin and Mathias, are also Guinean internationals.
Paul Pogba Reunites with Naby Keïta
The Syli National touched down in the Emirati capital on December 31 as part of their training camp in preparation for AFCON 2023, set to kick off in 13 days (January 13 to February 11, 2024). A video released by the Guinean Football Federation (FGF) in the afternoon captured the 2018 World Cup champion and team captain Naby Keïta sharing a friendly handshake before Keïta headed for training.
The camaraderie between Pogba and Keïta stems from their encounters in the English Premier League from 2018 to 2022 when “La Pioche” played for Manchester United while the Conakry native represented Liverpool. This isn’t the first instance of the 2018 World Cup winner expressing his connection to his country of origin. In 2022, he spent 48 hours in Conakry for a charity match, receiving a rock-star-like welcome with a security escort befitting a head of state.
Pogba’s support undoubtedly adds vigor to the team led by coach Kaba Diawara, set to kick off their campaign on January 15 against Cameroon in a challenging group that includes the defending champions, Senegal, and Gambia.
Paul Pogba Provides Strength to an AFCON 2023 Underdog Team
Despite his recent absences and limited playtime at Werder Bremen (3 appearances), captain Naby Keita will undoubtedly be a key player for the Diawara-led squad. Issiaga Sylla, his loyal deputy who hasn’t played since November 3 due to injury with Montpellier, is also expected to play a crucial role. The Bundesliga’s second-highest scorer (17 goals), Sehrou Guirassy, joins the team alongside other notable figures such as Mohamed Bayo, Ilaix Moriba, Abdoulaye Touré, Mouctar Diakhaby, Amadou Diawara, and François Kamano.
In this squad, featuring only one local player, goalkeeper Moussa Camara, two surprises stand out. Firstly, the eagerly awaited return of José Martinez Kanté, the 33-year-old forward who has not been called up for months but recently scored for Urawa Red Diamonds against Al Ahly (2-4) in the Club World Cup third-place play-off. This will be his last opportunity to don the Syli jersey before retiring.
The second surprise is the inclusion of 18-year-old forward Facinet Conté, called up for the first time after netting five goals in France’s Ligue 2 with Bastia this season. The Guinean team started their gathering on December 28 in Conakry and flew to Abu Dhabi on December 30, where they will stay until January 12 before heading to Ivory Coast to face Cameroon, Senegal, and Gambia in Group C of AFCON. At least one friendly match, likely against Nigeria, is scheduled in the Gulf region.
Guinea is set for a formidable task to advance from Group C in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament. Coach Kaba Diawara expressed his reaction to the draw that placed his team in the same group as Cameroon and Gambia, alongside the Lions. “This is the group of death, but I would also say it’s the group where you can’t afford to sleep, so to speak. We cannot afford to assume that against one team or another, it will be easy or difficult. Moreover, we will start against Cameroon, a five-time African champion. We will then face Gambia before concluding with a derby against Senegal. So, I think any calculations will be truly pointless”, declared the Syli National’s coach.
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