Guinea have just completed around ten days of preparation for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, a training camp marked by two friendly matches, both of which ended in narrow defeats. The Syli National lost 1–0 to Gambia and then suffered the same scoreline against Benin, with both matches played on Moroccan soil. With less than ten days remaining before the start of the continental tournament and Guinea’s opening fixture against Madagascar, these results have raised questions among supporters. However, national team coach Paul Put insists that the scorelines are not his primary concern at this stage.
For the Belgian coach, the priority is not immediate victories, but rather the overall progress of his squad, particularly from a technical and tactical standpoint. Speaking after the latest friendly, Put underlined that preparation matches are above all a working tool. “Results aren’t important. What’s important is that we’re progressing, that we see development on a technical level. I think that’s the most important thing,” he explained. Nevertheless, the coach did not try to hide the shortcomings currently affecting his team, especially in attack.
Despite periods of good build-up play and several situations created in front of goal, Guinea have struggled to convert their chances. According to Put, this lack of efficiency is the main issue to address before the start of the AFCON. “We also have to tell the truth. We have shortcomings because we create chances but we don’t finish them. That’s a fact,” he admitted. The former Burkina Faso and Jordan coach emphasized that this problem is not always solved through tactical adjustments alone, but also depends heavily on the mental state of the players.
Confidence, in Put’s view, is central to a striker’s performance. “A coach can work like crazy, but you need the players’ confidence. A striker needs confidence just like a goalkeeper,” he stressed. This psychological dimension is one the technical staff are trying to nurture during the final days of preparation, aware that a single goal can often change the dynamic of an entire attacking line.
Among the players closely observed is François Kamano. The Bordeaux winger has been Guinea’s most prolific player in recent months, scoring two goals in his last six international appearances. Yet, like his teammates, he failed to find the net in the two warm-up matches against Gambia and Benin. For Paul Put, this does not erase the progress already made. “We’ve seen that François has grown, but he’s not at his peak yet. That will come. Everyone can hope that he’ll have that breakthrough before we start the AFCON,” he said, expressing confidence that Kamano can still reach top form in time.
The absence of Naby Keita in these friendlies was also noticeable. Without their star midfielder, Guinea lacked creativity and leadership in key moments, which partly explains their difficulties in the final third. However, the staff believe these matches provided valuable lessons, allowing them to identify weaknesses and fine-tune their approach before the competition begins.
As the countdown to Guinea’s opening match against Madagascar continues, the Syli National are fully focused on correcting their attacking inefficiency while maintaining the positive elements seen in their play. For Paul Put and his players, the ultimate objective is to arrive at the AFCON not only physically prepared, but mentally confident and capable of turning promising phases of play into decisive goals.
