Naby Keita adviser challenges Guinea boss Paulo Duarte over latest omission

Naby Keita’s adviser has publicly challenged Guinea manager Paulo Duarte’s explanation for leaving the midfielder out of the squad for the country’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Eritrea.

Keita had received a preliminary call-up and indicated that he was ready to return to the Syli national. However, his name was absent from Duarte’s squad for the two matches against Eritrea on 12 and 16 November.

The decision prompted a strong response from Keita’s adviser, Thierno Amadou Makadji.

Duarte was asked about the absence of several experienced players, including Keita, Mohamed Bayo and Morgan Guilavogui. The Guinea manager said he wanted to work only with players who responded positively to his requests.

That explanation was disputed by Makadji, who accused Duarte of failing to give the full account of what had happened.

The adviser also objected to any suggestion that Keita lacked commitment to Guinea, saying the midfielder’s dedication to the national team should not be questioned.

“He has no lesson in patriotism to give Naby,” Makadji said, according to comments reported by Mosaique Guinee.

He referred to the risks Keita took to play at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations while recovering from injury, and called on Duarte to take responsibility for his decisions rather than “hide behind excuses” or describe former senior players as “stateless”.

Duarte had said in September that Keita, who plays for Ferencvaros, remained “an option” and that there was no problem between the pair.

Two months later, the disagreement has become public, with the player’s camp and the national-team manager presenting different versions of events.

Keita has not played for Guinea since the Syli national’s quarter-final defeat by DR Congo at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on 2 February 2024.

He had appeared to be on course for a return to the national side after making himself available again, but this latest exchange has put that prospect further away.