Morlaye Sylla absent, injury plagued Naby keita present in Kaba Diawara’s AFCON 2023 list

Guinea coach Kaba Diawara on Saturday unveiled his list of 25 players selected to take part in AFCON 2023 with Syli National.

Despite his multiple withdrawals in recent months and his limited playing time at Werder Bremen (3 appearances), captain Naby Keita obviously makes the list, as Issiaga Sylla, who has not played since 3 November with Montpellier due to injury.

Second top scorer in the Bundesliga (17 goals), Sehrou Guirassy is obviously there too, like other headliners: Mohamed Bayo, Ilaix Moriba, Abdoulaye Touré, Mouctar Diakhaby, Amadou Diawara and François Kamano. Midfeilder Morlaye Sylla is conspicuously absent after his presence in AFCON 2021 in Cameroon.

In this list which includes only one local player (goalkeeper Moussa Camara), there is the great return of José Martinez Kanté. Not called upon for months, the 33-year-old striker, scorer on Friday with Urawa Red Diamonds against Al Ahly (2-4) during the match for 3rd place in the Club World Cup, will therefore have the opportunity to wear the Syli jersey one last time before hanging his boots.

The other surprise is the presence of Facinet Conté, 18-year-old striker, called up for the first time after scoring 5 goals in French Ligue 2 with Bastia this season.

The Guineans will begin their regrouping on December 28 in Conakry. They will then fly on the 30th to Abu Dhabi until January 12 before heading to Ivory Coast to face Cameroon, Senegal and Gambia in Group C of the AFCON. At least one friendly match, probably against Nigeria, will take place in the Gulf.

Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Koné (Hibernians FC / Malta) – Aly Kéita (Ostersunds / Sweden) – Moussa Camara (Horoya AC / Guinea)

Defenders: Sékou Oumar Sylla (SC Cambuur / Netherlands) – Julian Jeanvier (Kayserispor / Turkey) – Saidou Sow (Strasbourg / France) – Mohamed Ali Camara (Young Boys / Switzerland) – Antoine Conté (Botev Plovdiv / Bulgaria) – Ibrahim Diakité (Stade Reims / France) – Issiaga Sylla (Montpellier / France) – Mouctar Diakhaby (Valence CF / Spain)

Midfielders: Amadou Diawara (Anderlecht / Belgium) – Abdoulaye Touré (Le Havre / France) – Seydouba Cissé (Leganes / Spain) – Mory Konaté (KV Malines / Belgium) – Moriba Kourouma (RB Leipzig / Germany) – Naby Kéita (SV Werder Bremen / Germany) – Aguibou Camara (Atromitos / Greece) – Karim Cissé (AS Saint-Étienne / France)

Forwards: François Kamano (Abha FC / Saudi Arabia) – Morgan Guilavogui (RC Lens / France) – Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart / Germany) – Mohamed Bayo (Le Havre / France) – José Martinez Kanté – Facinet Conté (SC Bastia / France)