Ex-Guinea captain Ibrahima Traore has challenged the current Syli National crop to finally banish their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final curse when they head to Ivory Coast next month.
Traore, who amassed over 100 caps before retiring in 2019, featured in five AFCON tournaments during a distinguished international career.
Yet like all his fellow countrymen, the former Borussia Monchengladbach winger never progressed beyond the last eight of the continental showcase.
Now working as a pundit for Canal+ Afrique, Traore has set the bar higher for Kaba Diawara’s talented 2023 panel which contains Liverpool ace Naby Keita and red-hot Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy.
“Syli is always a bit of a question,” the 38-year-old told Afric-Foot in an exclusive interview. “We know that there are always good players, who play well most of the time.
“But there is always this glass ceiling of the quarter-finals. We have been waiting for years to finally pass this milestone.”
While fitness concerns linger over Keita, free-scoring Guirassy arrives in Ivory Coast bang in form having plundered 16 Bundesliga goals already this term.
And Traore is backing the former Rennes man to translate his scintillating club form onto the international stage as Guinea target an historic semi-final appearance.
“I’m not surprised that he already knows this championship after his time in Cologne even if it was mixed,” said Traore of the 26-year-old striker.
“Seeing him become this formidable scorer doesn’t surprise me at all. Surprised by the number of goals yes, but by the performances as such, no.”
📊 SERHOU GUIRASSY EN BUNDESLIGA CETTE SAISON C’EST :
• 14 MATCHS
• 17 BUTS
• 1 PASSE DÉCISIVEQuel joueur 💥🔥 pic.twitter.com/q5Dbe5bH3C
— 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲́𝗲𝗻𝘀 🇬🇳🐘 (@Joueurs_GN) December 20, 2023
