Ebola Fears Complicate Ibrahim Traoré’s Guinea Call-Up
As the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers approach their decisive final rounds, Guinea’s national team coach Michel Dussuyer faces unexpected hurdles—not from injuries or suspensions, but from health-related club resistance.
🚫 Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Reluctance
German club Borussia Mönchengladbach is reportedly hesitant to release Ibrahim Traoré due to concerns over the Ebola virus, despite the matches not taking place in Ebola-affected areas.
According to Dussuyer:
“The German doctors are worried, but coach Lucien Favre assured me on Thursday that the player will be released. The rules are clear—they can’t block him.”
The coach expressed frustration with misconceptions and fear-driven decisions from European medical staff, urging them to rely on up-to-date facts about Ebola transmission and location-based risk levels.
🦠 Location Matters
Dussuyer made it clear:
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Guinea will not be hosting the matches at home.
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The games are scheduled for:
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Togo – no declared Ebola cases.
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Casablanca (Morocco) – also free from declared Ebola infections.
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“We’re not irresponsible. We are fully committed to protecting our players’ health.”
⚽ Implications for Guinea
If Borussia Mönchengladbach ultimately refuses to release Traoré, Guinea will lose a key element in their midfield as they push for qualification.
This would be a significant blow for Syli National, especially in high-stakes fixtures.
Bottom line: While CAF regulations mandate club player release for official international dates, fear of Ebola is influencing decisions—even when risks are minimal. For Dussuyer and Guinea, it’s yet another challenge off the pitch that could impact results on it.
