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As She Meets Liberia's
Lone Star,
Guinea Syli Nationale Picks Up Broken Pieces
Titi Camara
September 4, 2002
Siebo D. Williams
Monrovia
Mansaray, Titi Camara, Soumah, Thiam
On Board
Memories are still fresh about the
way the once fearful Syli Nationale of Guinea blew up their chances of
qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time until sluggish
performance and government's interference ended the journey.
Guinea was drawn along with South Africa,
Zimbabawe, Burkina Faso and Malawi. South Africa was seen as the favorites,
but Guinea took the early lead having played more games ahead of the Bafana
Bafana, beating Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou and Zimbabwe in Conakry.
The Guineans had one more match before engaging
South Africa to decide their group, and the mach was against Malawi in
Conakry. Guinea led the match throughout until the Malawians equalized in
the dying minutes.
The result plunged the whole nation in mourning
although there were three more matches to go. As a penalty, the entire FA
was dismissed by the Central Government and replaced with a new one.
However, world football governing body FIFA stepped in
quickly to save the situation. FIFA urged the Guinean government to have the
FA reinstated at least not to mix politics with football.
When the government refused, the Syli Nationale was expelled
from the Mali 2002 Nations Cup qualifying stage and the African U-17 Nations
Cup, which got them a place in the finals in Trinidad and Tobago.
Months later, Guinea as given the green light in
international soccer again. A home-based team was assembled to face Morocco
in a friendly international match in Casablanca ahead of the Nations Cup
finals in Mali. Morocco won 2-1.
Come Sunday, September 8, 2002, the Syli Nationale will meet
the Lone Star of Liberia in the opening stage of the 2004 African Cup of
Nations qualifiers.
Most of the Country's fine talents are still kicking for
their various clubs in the leagues of Europe. Rising star Pascal Feindonou
has been recalled by Bordeaux coach Elie Barys after a one-year loan spell
at relegated Lorient, where he won the 2002 French Cup.
Skipper Aboubacar Titi Camara seems to be dying slowly
in the English Premiership after he failed to find playing time at West Ham
United, but he may bounce back on the international stage.
Prolific goal scorer Souleymane Oulare is still around
having taken his scoring form from Gent in Belgium t Las Palmas in Spain's
La Liga. He may pose a threat to Guinea's opponents.
The list of Guineas's high profiled foreign-based stars
also include defensive midfielder Pablo Thiam who joined Bayern Munich last
season from Stuttgart, Morlaye Soumah, a central defender at French side
Bastia, and striker Foday Mansaray of Montpellier of France.
There is a current wave of youthful players who
participated in the world youth championship in Trinidad and Tobago. There
is also a galaxy of local based players who are part of the Guinean team.
These home based players are expected to merge with the
professional players when the Syli Nationale takes on the Lone Star on
Sunday, September 8, 2002.
The rival between Guinea and Liberia date far back.
Liberia is the last country to beat Guinea. The last time they met was in
early 1990 when the Lone Star won 2-0 with Friday Roberts and Alex Theo
scoring. |
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