Guinea secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Niger in the first leg of the final round of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers. The closely contested match, played at the September 28 Stadium in Conakry, ended with a single goal, giving the national Sily hope as they look ahead to the return leg in Niamey.
The decisive moment came in the 50th minute when Mohamed Lamine Yattara found the back of the net, sparking excitement among the Guinean supporters in attendance. Despite challenging playing conditions caused by the previous day’s rainfall, the two teams struggled to develop a fluid game in the first half. Niger displayed defensive resilience against repeated attacks from Guinea, but Sily lacked realism and initiative.
Upon returning from halftime, the Guinean eleven gained the upper hand, securing the crucial goal that shifted the momentum. Despite the muddy terrain, the game became more interesting and lively. However, the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.
With this narrow victory, Guinea and Niger maintain their chances as they head into the return leg scheduled in Niamey on October 14.
