Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, Guinea’s Interim President has read out the riot act to the players of the Syli Nacionale, a few days to the commencement of the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Doumbouya hosted the players and gave them a parting message in Conakry before heading to Kigali, Rwanda for a closed-camping. The message, however left a mountain to climb for the Guinean team as the seemingly impossible was demanded.
“The cup, or you reimburse the money that’s been invested in you,” Col. Doumbouya told players at their sending off meeting.
The Kaba Diawara-led team will have a full collection of players to call on with Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita leading the park. They also have former Barcelona midfielder Ilaix Moriba as he recently switched allegiance from Spain.
Doumbouya led the coup that led to the capture of former President, Alpha Conde on the 5th of September and became the interim President of the West African country afterwards.
The 2021 AFCON in Cameroon will be the 13th in Guinea’s football history with their best outing coming in 1976 when they finished as runners-up.
Before Guinea will achieve Doumbouya’s tall order, they will first have to beat a group that has favourites Senegal, Malawi and Zimbabwe.