With the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations fast approaching, uncertainty continues to surround the Guinea national team over the absence of its star midfielder, Naby Keita. Expected in Marrakech, Morocco, to join the Syli National’s training camp ahead of AFCON 2019 in Egypt, the Liverpool player has still not reported for duty, raising concerns within the Guinean camp.
Pre-selected among a group of 25 players by Belgian coach Paul Put, Keita was due to strengthen Guinea’s preparations for the tournament, which kicks off on June 21. However, despite recently returning from an adductor injury, the former RB Leipzig midfielder remains in England and has yet to travel to Morocco. His prolonged absence is increasingly frustrating the Guinean technical staff, who are keen to integrate him into the squad as soon as possible.
Speaking to Foot224, Paul Put confirmed that discussions with Liverpool are ongoing but complicated. “I’m in contact with Liverpool every day. It’s really not easy, especially with Naby’s agent,” the coach admitted. “I’m absolutely certain that Naby wants to come, but he is under pressure from Liverpool because they want to continue treating him until the 11th of June. That means he might arrive on the 12th. But we also have to submit the final list to CAF, as I explained.”
Keita’s situation places Guinea in a delicate position. On one hand, the Syli National desperately need their playmaker, whose experience at the highest level of European football makes him one of the pillars of the squad. On the other, Liverpool are eager to ensure that their midfielder fully recovers before resuming competitive action, after a season disrupted by recurring injuries.
Paul Put is not the only one trying to speed up Keita’s arrival. The Guinean camp is mobilizing all possible channels to convince the player and his club to find a compromise. “We are still in communication, but it’s difficult,” the coach added. “Even the captain, Ibou (Ibrahima Traoré), spoke with Naby to put pressure on him as well. We’ll see what happens in the coming days.”
The delay comes at a crucial time, as Guinea fine-tunes its preparations for the continental showpiece. The coaching staff wants to establish tactical cohesion, assess the physical condition of the players, and organize the team around its key elements. Keita’s absence deprives the squad of its main creative force in midfield, making it harder to work on automatisms and game plans ahead of the competition.
While waiting for clarity over their talisman, the Syli National continue their preparation program in Marrakech. Guinea are scheduled to face Gambia in a friendly match this Friday, a fixture that will allow Paul Put to test his group and evaluate his options, even without his star man.
As the deadline for submitting the final squad list to the Confederation of African Football draws closer, pressure is mounting. Whether Naby Keita will arrive in time to convince the coach of his fitness and secure his place in the final 23 remains uncertain. For Guinea and their supporters, the hope is that a solution will soon be found, allowing their captain and leader to join the team and take part in Africa’s biggest football tournament.
