Luis Fernandez Appointed Guinea Coach – Titi Camara Voices Strong Opposition
Frenchman Luis Fernandez has officially taken the reins of the Guinean national team (Syli National) with a clear mission: qualify Guinea for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2017) in Gabon. While the appointment has been welcomed by some in Guinean football circles, former star striker and ex-Minister of Sports Aboubacar “Titi” Camara has publicly expressed sharp disapproval.
“If I were still a Minister in Guinea, Fernandez would never have come to Guinea,” Camara told Africaguinée.
His criticism focuses not only on Fernandez’s prolonged hesitation before accepting the post, but also on his suggestion to appoint Amara Simba—a former French international of Senegalese origin—as his assistant.
“It’s a real shame. What shocked me the most was that Luis Fernandez proposed Amara Simba as his assistant. It’s as if we were insulting the people of Guinea.”
Camara, who briefly served as Guinea’s Minister of Sports from 2010 to 2012, is a national icon and remains influential in the country’s sporting affairs. His comments reflect broader concerns among Guinean stakeholders who view Fernandez’s appointment—and the external names tied to his staff—as disconnected from local talent and identity.
Despite this pushback, Fernandez begins his tenure with hopes of building a strong team for CAN 2017 qualification. Whether he can win over public opinion—or prove his critics wrong—remains to be seen.
