Pogba Puled-out of Guinea AFCON Squad
Guinea national team have lost two players, including Florentin Pogba, as they prepare for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Guinea were drawn in Group B alongside last edition’s finalists Senegal as well as Malawi and Zimbabwe.
The Syli Nationale’s 27-man squad was led by Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita as well as former Barcelona player Ilaix Moriba and Florentin Pogba.
However, Pogba’s club SC Sochaux said yesterday that the 31-year-old sustained a knee injury and will therefore not be available for the 2021 AFCON.
His teammate and fellow defender Antoine Conte of Romania’s Universitatea Craiova,
has also been excluded from the squad. Conte had just returned from injury and decided to opt out of the tournament himself as he felt another, more fit player, could have a bigger impact on the team.
Guinea head coach, Kaba Diawara, has decided to replace the duo with Horoya AC defender Fode Camara and 21-year-old Gaoussou Youssouf Siby from Wakirya AC. This bring the number of Guinean-based players to four, with three of them plying their trade for Horoya AC.
Full (updated) squad:
Goalkeepers: Aly Keita (Ostersund, Sweden), Ibrahima Kone (Hibernians, Malta), Moussa Camara (Horoya, Guinea).
Defenders: Saidou Sow (St Etienne, France), Ibrahima Conte (Niort, France), Ousmane Kante (Paris FC, France), Mohamed Aly Camara (Young Boys, Switzerland), Pa Konate (Botev Plovdiv, Bulgaria), Issiaga Sylla (Toulouse, France), Mikael Dyrestam (Sarpsborg 08, Norway), Fode Camara (Horoya AC, Guinea).
Midfielders: Amadou Diawara (Roma, Italy), Ibrahima Cisse (Seriang, Belgium), Mory Konate (Sint-Truidense, Belgium), Ibrahima Sory Conte (Bnei Sakhnin, Israel), Ilaix Moriba (RB Leipzig, Germany), Mamadou Kane (Neftci, Azerbaijan), Morlaye Sylla (Horoya, Guinea), Gaoussou Youssouf Siby (Wakirya, Guinea), Aguibou Camara (Olympiacos, Greece), Naby Keita (Liverpool, England).
Forwards: Seydouba Soumah (Kuwait SC, Kuwait), Morgan Guilavogui (Paris FC, France), Mamadou Diallo (Grenoble, France), Jose Kante (Kairat, Kazakhstan), Mohamed Bayo (Clermont France), Sory Kaba (OH Leuven, Belgium).
