Guinea name squad to take on Northern Ireland

South Africa’s future Africa Cup of Nations qualifying opponents, Guinea, have picked an expansive 25-man squad for this week’s warm-up friendly against Northern Ireland, with only three local players selected by coach Paulo Duarte.

Guinea are in Bafana Bafana’s group for the 2027 Cup of Nations qualifiers, and while Bafana are away at the World Cup, Syli Nationale have one friendly in the June international window to prepare for September’s qualifying kick-off.

They meet the Irish in La Linea de la Concepción on Thursday in a first-ever meeting between the two countries.

Portuguese-born Duarte, who is a veteran coach of African national teams, must do without top striker Serhou Guirassy, who is among the Bundesliga’s top scorers, but has brought back the former Napoli midfielder Amadou Diawara, who now plays in Spain.

It will be the last time that Duarte will be able to work with his players before the 2027 Cup of Nations qualifiers get underway with an away game against South Africa in September.

With Kenya also in qualifying Group D, but already assured of a place in the finals as one of the co-hosts, only one of Eritrea, Guinea, and South Africa can qualify for the finals mid-next year, and the first clash between Bafana and Guinea is likely to be key.

Guinea squad:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed Camara (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Mory Keita (Hafia), Soumaila Sylla (Stade Reims, France)

Defenders: Aboubacar Camara (FC Metaloglobus, Romania), Lancé Camara (ASM Sangaredi), Amadou Cissé (Racing Strasbourg, France), Ibrahima Brèze Fofana (Hammarby, Sweden), Mory Konate (KV Mechelen, Belgium), Mohamed Soumah (IK Sirius, Sweden), Sekou Oumar Sylla (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands)

Midfielders: Ibrahima Sory Bangoura (Racing Genk, Belgium), Seydouba Cissé (Leganés, Spain), Ousmane Diabaté (Gençlerbirliği, Turkey), Amadou Diawara (Leganés, Spain), Mohamed Cherif Haidara (Sønderjyske, Denmark), Lancinet Kourouma (Girona, Spain), Morlaye Sylla (Damac, Saudi Arabia)

Forwards: Aliou Badara Baldé (St. Gallen, Switzerland), Yakhouba Gnagna Barry (Horoya), Abdoulaye ‘Kolev’ Camara (Vejle BK, Denmark), Ousmane Camara (Guangdong GZ-Power, China), Ousmane Camara (CD Castellón, Spain), Sory Kaba (OH Leuven, Belgium), Abdoul Karim Traoré (OH Leuven, Belgium), Mohamed Touré (Viktoria Plzeň, Czech Republic).