The Syli National team of Guinea is experiencing difficulties in assembling its players for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Eritrea. With only 48 hours to go before the match, just 8 out of 25 players have joined the team in Conakry. The Eritrean team, on the other hand, has already arrived in the Guinean capital. This development has raised concerns about the team's preparation and performance.
The challenges facing the Syli National team are attributed to difficulties in purchasing air tickets for the players. Despite having service passports, the team continues to experience logistical issues. In October, coach Paulo Duarte publicly expressed his frustration with the amateurish logistics in managing the team's travel arrangements. He advocated for service passports for the players, which were subsequently obtained.
However, the problem persists, and the responsibility has been shifted to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. According to a ministry official, the purchase of tickets is now handled by a central purchasing agency, which falls under the ministry's purview. The official stated that the Ministry of Sports has done its part and provided the necessary information to the relevant authorities.
The situation is expected to normalize with the arrival of the remaining players scheduled for the evening and midnight. The team is set to receive reinforcements via Ethiopian Airlines and Brussels Airlines. Nevertheless, the delay has disrupted the team's training schedule, which may impact their performance against Eritrea.
The Syli National team is currently in a tough position in the qualifiers, having won only one of their two matches. They trail behind South Africa, who lead the group with six points. To qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, Guinea must win all their remaining matches and hope for an upset from South Africa.
The team's coach, Paulo Duarte, and his players will likely have to limit their training to a simple warm-up session before the match. This may affect the team's morale and performance, according to some specialists. The Syli National team needs to overcome these logistical challenges to achieve their goal of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers have been marked by challenges for the Syli National team. With the team's situation being closely monitored, it remains to be seen how they will perform against Eritrea. The match is scheduled to take place on November 12 at the Stade du 28 septembre in Conakry.
Key points
- Only 8 of 25 players have joined Guinea's Syli National team 48 hours before their match against Eritrea.
- The team's logistical challenges are attributed to difficulties in purchasing air tickets for the players.
- The Syli National team trails behind South Africa in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
