Luis Fernandez, the new coach of Syli National, addressed the public for the first time in Guinea since taking the helm, and his speech certainly struck a chord with the Guinean crowd. After facing a standoff with several players regarding disciplinary issues, the French coach made it clear that he is ready to rebuild the squad, emphasizing that those players who had initially refused selection could have a chance to redeem themselves.
Fernandez confirmed the existence of sanctions, but also signaled openness to reconciliation. He said, “We already know the sanctions. We’re going to wait a little while before taking stock of some of them. To see if they want to apologize… to make a mea culpa… to the Guinean fans, to those who love the Syli.” His tone was firm but fair, suggesting that he is willing to offer a path for certain players to reintegrate into the team.
In a major disciplinary move, Fernandez had previously banned Idrissa Sylla, Ibrahima Conté, Fodé Koita, and Bouna Sarr after their refusal to be selected for the opening match of the CAN 2017 qualifiers. Additionally, following Guinea’s disappointing 1-2 loss to Swaziland, he suspended Ibrahima Traoré and Abdoul Razzagui.
However, looking ahead to the next AFCON qualifier against Zimbabwe, Fernandez hinted that there could be a return for some of the suspended players. “It’s true that we have a match coming up, and the six or eight who will be recalled won’t be there. But maybe one or two. I can’t go back and erase everything. What was done isn’t compatible, it’s not in accordance with the rules. But we’ll think about bringing back one or two players who are willing to make genuine apologies, but not to the coach. To the management, the fans, the teammates who were there.”
This statement indicates a significant step toward restoring team unity and cohesion, with Fernandez aiming to strike a balance between discipline and giving players a second chance to prove themselves. His approach reflects a blend of authority and openness, hoping to align the squad’s objectives with the ambitions of both the fans and the football federation.
