Off to a rough start

Guinea’s participation in World Cup qualifying began in the second round with the first of two group stage rounds. The remaining 48 national teams were drawn into 12 groups of 4 teams though following the withdrawal of Eritrea one group was reduced to 3 sides. The 12 group winners and 8 best runners up would progress to the final round of qualifying. Guinea were one of twelve top seeds and thus were guaranteed to avoid all the big teams with the exception of South Africa. The group Guinea were drawn into was certainly on paper the Group of Death of the round. From Pot 2 were placed Zimbabwe led by Manchester City’s Benjani, from Pot 3, the always dangerous Harambee Stars of Kenya and finally in Pot 4 Nations Cup participant Namibia.

With only the first placed finisher in the group guaranteed a spot in the final round it looked like a tough test was in store for the Syli Nationale. And a tough test it would prove in the first two fixtures in June.

Guinea opened their World Cup campaign at home in Conakry against Zimbabwe. While a tough match it was certainly expected for the Syli Nationale to take all three points. At the end of the day Guinea was unable to break the Zimbabwe defense and finished with an unsatisfactory 0-0 draw. Making the result even bitterer was the fact that the Guinea side featured most of its mainstays including Pascal Feindouno, Fode Mansare, Ismaël Bangoura and Bobo Balde. Guinea ended the game with 5 strikers on the pitch but still could not ignite their fans into a joyous celebration. The other match of the day saw Namibia defeat Kenya 2-1 leaving Guinea two points adrift of the group leaders.

The following week Guinea traveled to Nairobi to face Kenya. Certainly a daunting road fixture but still a game in which Guinea was expected to at least nick a point. In the end the Syli Nationale were humiliated by the Harambee Stars 2-0. Thoroughly outclassed and beaten despite again featuring most of their regulars. They succumbed to two Dennis Oliech strikes, one in the opening minutes of each half. In the other match Zimbabwe soundly beat Namibia 2-0 at home in Harare.

Thus after two games the favorites were dead last in the group with a solitary point. Zimbabwe were leading the way with 4 points and Namibia and Kenya each had 3 points. And with a trip to Windhoek upcoming the following week it was really head in hands time for the supporters of the Syli Nationale. Anything less than three points could spell the end of the World Cup dream as well as Nations Cup qualification.

The next entry will look at both qualifying matches against Namibia. Stay tuned…