Guinea coach Kaba Diawara has made changes to his squad for next month’s important 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Algeria and Mozambique, calling in three uncapped players from France.
Teenage midfielder Soumaila Sylla has been pulled in from Stade de Reims despite only making a few first-team appearances, while defenders Rayane Doucouré of Red Star and Nice’s Aliou Badara Baldé are the other new faces.
The trio’s selection demonstrates Diawara’s eagerness to explore new possibilities as the Syli Nationale seek to improve their prospects of reaching the finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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Sylla, 20, has primarily played for Reims’ reserve side in National 3 this season, despite routinely training with the first team. He has previously represented France at the under-18 level.
Doucouré, meanwhile, was important in Red Star’s National title victory, thriving in a three-man defence led by former Senegal international Habib Beye, earning him a move to Ligue 2 next season.
Baldé, 21, has the most senior experience, having made seven Ligue 1 appearances for Nice this season and previously played for clubs in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland.
The winger also has junior experience, having represented Senegal at the 2019 Under-17 World Cup.
Their inclusion comes at the cost of Morgan Guilavogui, who has struggled for playing time at Lens, while captain Naby Keita misses out due to mental health issues stemming from his lack of activity at Werder Bremen.
The revision continues Guinea’s policy of tapping into its burgeoning pool of dual nationals, with Serhou Guirassy, Ilaix Moriba, and Aguibou Camara all maintained despite Valencia’s Thierry Correia being left out.
Diawara’s approach is ambitious, as he understands that maximum points from home and away matches against Algeria and Mozambique are necessary to keep the Syli’s dwindling qualification hopes alive in Group G.
Guinea trails leaders Algeria by three points heading into their crucial game in Algiers on June 6, before facing Mozambique four days later in Conakry.
