Guinea have taken a bold and unconventional step in their preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, by sending their entire squad to a military camp for intensive training.
The local Syli National team, under head coach Souleymane Camara, have been placed under a military regime at Camp Samoriya, where they are undergoing rigorous drills led by military instructors.
The move comes less than a month before the tournament kicks off in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from 2 to 30 August 2025.
This unique training environment follows two friendly matches against Senegal in Diamniadio, which ended in a goalless draw and a narrow 1-0 defeat.
According to a statement released by the Guinean Football Federation (FGF), the decision to train in a military facility is aimed at instilling “cardinal values such as patriotism, discipline, commitment and the spirit of sacrifice.”
Sports Minister Bogola Haba shared a video from the camp, showing players engaged in physically demanding exercises under military supervision—symbolising a new level of mental and physical readiness the country expects from its players.
The 23-man squad for CHAN 2024 was officially unveiled by Coach Camara on Friday. Among the call-ups is experienced midfielder Ibrahima Sory Sankhon, who returned to domestic football in January and brings valuable international exposure to the squad.
Guinea are drawn into a highly competitive Group C alongside hosts Uganda, Niger, Algeria, and South Africa. The group is considered one of the toughest in the tournament, with little margin for error.
However, team officials believe the military camp experience will help forge a resilient and cohesive unit capable of withstanding the mental and physical demands of CHAN.
The West African nation is aiming to surpass its previous best finish in the competition, having reached the semi-finals in 2020.
That run ended in heartbreak, but it also fuelled belief that Guinea could one day lift the trophy. With a new generation of players undergoing intense preparation and a government-backed football project, expectations are once again on the rise.
Guinea’s participation in CHAN 2024 represents more than just football—it is also a statement of national pride and determination. By placing players in a military camp, the message from the federation is clear: this is war, and Guinea intends to fight for glory.
The CHAN 2024 tournament, exclusively for players active in their domestic leagues, will be hosted for the first time by three nations—Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—marking a historic chapter in African football.
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