End of the Line

November 12th, 2009 | by: shane | Comments(2)

Guinea’s World Cup qualifying campaign mercifully comes to an end this Saturday as they travel to Côte d’Ivoire to face World Cup finalists out of the group and a side that has had Guinea’s number over the last few years. For Guinea their dreams of a spot in the 2010 Nations Cup are on the line. They must emerge with at least a point if they are to travel to Angola. Even a point may not be enough as their fate is ultimately in the hands of Malawi and Burkina Faso. Should Malawi win away against the Burkinabe then Malawi qualify. If Malawi draw then Guinea need to win. If Malawi lose then a Guinea win or draw will send them to Angola.

It would take a fool to bet on Guinea getting the result they need this weekend. The National Team is in complete shambles. New manager Mamadi Souare has further belabored this point by calling up his brother Ibrahima Souaré who is currently club-less.

Here is the full call up list:

Goalkeepers:
Kemoko Camara (Cholet, France)
Naby Yattara (Arles-Avignon, France)

Defenders:
Dian Bobo Balde (Valenciennes, France)
Kamil Zayatte (Hull City, England)
Oumar Kalabane (Vestel Manisaspor, Turkey)
Mamadou Diallo (Diyarbakirspor, Turkey)
Ibrahima Camara (Le Mans, France)
Morlaye Cissé (FC Mulhouse, France)
Ibrahima Diallo (SC Charleroi, Belgium)

Midfielders:
Alseny Camara (Châteauroux, France)
Kanfory Sylla (Istanbul B.B, Turkey)
Kevin Constant (Châteauroux, France)
Mamadou Dioulde Bah (Strasbourg, France)
Samuel Johnson (Talaea El Geish, Egypt)
Pascal Feindouno (Al Rayyan Club, Qatar)
Ibrahima Souaré (unattached)
Naby Laye Soumah (Horoya, Guinea)

Strikers:
Alhassane Keita (Mallorca, Spain)
Kaba Diawara (Arles-Avignon, France)
Ibrahima Bangoura (Denizlispor, Turkey)
Ismaël Bangoura (Stade Rennais, France)
Fodé Mansaré (Toulouse, France)
Souleymane Youla (Eskisehirspor, Turkey)

Few surprises here except for the aforementioned Ibrahima Souaré and possibly Naby Soumah. Basically the same group of players who are responsible for the sides current predicament. Though, to be fair they are the best players the National team has to offer. Unfortunately they either have not gelled as a team or they just don’t give a crap. I will go with both.

If Guinea are to have any chance then the captain Feindouno will have to show up in a big way. He is more than capable of doing so but he is also more than capable of having absolutely no impact. Ismaël Bangoura will also need to perform up to his abilities and probably needs to contribute at least one goal.

Probably the only thing Guinea has going for it is that their opponents have nothing to play for but pride. The Elephants have already qualified for their second consecutive World Cup and are likely to play some players who would otherwise not have featured. Nonetheless their squad is still loaded with talent and certainly deeper than Guinea’s squad.

So will the Syli Nationale show pride and shock their opponents who have dominated them over the last three years? Or will their capitulation come full circle?

I certainly think their capitulation comes full circle and Côte d’Ivoire humiliate them once again, this time around 4-0. Happiness for the people of Guinea has been in short supply recently following the military junta’s brutal crackdown on peaceful protests in September and the aftermath of the incident. Regardless of the result of the national team’s match this weekend lets hope the Guinean people can get a government that actually respects the wishes of the people and human rights. At the end of the day that is what really matters.