Guinea face Serhou Guirassy injury concern ahead of Eritrea double-header

Guinea have been handed a potential setback ahead of their upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Eritrea, with star striker Serhou Guirassy facing a race against time to recover from an injury.

The Borussia Dortmund forward was forced off in the 34th minute of Wednesday’s Champions League encounter against Real Betis after picking up a thigh problem, raising concerns over his availability for the Syli National’s November assignments.

The exact nature and severity of the injury remain unclear, with Guinea now facing uncertainty over the availability of one of their most influential attacking players.

Speaking after Dortmund’s match, head coach Niko Kovac provided an update on the Guinean international’s condition, admitting that the problem could be more serious than an ordinary muscle strain.

“Serhou Guirassy felt pain in his thigh. We’ll see if it’s just a simple strain, which I don’t think it is. We hope he’ll be back for the first match after the international break,” Kovac said.

The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Guinea, who are preparing for a crucial double-header against Eritrea in the third and fourth matchdays of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.

The two encounters are scheduled for November 12 and 16, with the national team hoping to have its leading striker available for both fixtures.

Guirassy’s potential absence would be a significant blow to Guinea’s attacking plans, considering his importance to the team’s forward line and his experience at the highest level of European football.

The Syli National will now monitor his recovery as they await further medical assessments to determine whether the Dortmund striker can recover in time for the international break.

For now, his participation in the upcoming qualifiers remains uncertain, leaving Guinea facing the possibility of starting their November campaign without their leading attacking figure.