Guinea’s hopes of progressing in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) ended in heartbreak after a late equaliser from Algeria sealed their elimination at the group stage.
The Syli A’ had entered the tournament with ambitions of surpassing their 2020 campaign, where they reached the semi-finals. Drawn in Group C alongside hosts Uganda, South Africa, Niger, and Algeria, the team looked determined to make an impact. But despite flashes of promise, their campaign fell short.
Guinea opened their group stage with a narrow but crucial 1-0 win over Niger on 4 August, giving them early momentum. However, their second fixture quickly shifted the mood as Uganda, backed by a passionate home crowd, handed them a heavy 3-0 defeat. That result placed Guinea under immediate pressure, with little room for further slip-ups.
The third group game against South Africa was billed as a chance for redemption, but Souleymane Camara’s men once again fell short, losing 2-1.
The defeat left their qualification hopes hanging by a thread and meant their final clash with Algeria became a must-win encounter.
On Friday, 14 August, Guinea took to the pitch knowing only victory would secure their place in the knockout rounds. They responded with determination, battling to stay in control of the contest.
For long periods, the plan appeared to be working. However, the team’s inability to find a decisive second goal left them vulnerable.
As the clock ticked down, Guinea’s dream began to unravel. In the 88th minute, Algeria struck with a late equaliser, extinguishing any remaining hopes of progression.
The Guineans, who had fought hard throughout the match, were left devastated as the final whistle confirmed their exit.
The draw meant Guinea concluded their group stage with four points from four matches, falling short of the required tally to reach the knockout stages.
For a team that had entered the competition with genuine aspirations of improvement, the result was bitterly disappointing.
The 2024 campaign will be remembered as a missed opportunity. Despite flashes of quality, Guinea lacked the consistency required at this level.
Their opening win over Niger demonstrated their potential, but heavy defeats to Uganda and South Africa exposed vulnerabilities both in defence and attack.
By the time Algeria struck their late equaliser, Guinea’s limitations had already undermined their ambitions.
Head coach Camara and his players must now reflect on a tournament where expectations outweighed delivery.
After the semi-final appearance in 2020, hopes had been high that this generation could at least reach the latter stages once more. Instead, their group-stage exit marked a significant step backwards.
For supporters, the frustration will be felt most keenly in the nature of their elimination. To come so close to a vital victory against Algeria, only to concede in the dying minutes, left the team’s campaign ending on the cruellest of notes.
As the dust settles, questions will be asked about how Guinea can rebuild and prepare for future tournaments. For now, however, the 2024 CHAN will be remembered as a story of potential unfulfilled and a dream that slipped away in the final minutes.
