Abidjan (AFP) – This Africa Cup of Nations is far from over but it is already a historic tournament for Guinea after they won a knockout tie for the first time, an achievement that left coach Kaba Diawara in tears.
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“For me and my staff this is really great. It goes beyond football,” the former Arsenal striker told AFP in an interview at the team’s hotel in Abidjan ahead of Friday’s quarter-final with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They got to this point after Mohamed Bayou’s last-gasp goal secured a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea.
“People might say why is he crying when he’s only in the last 16, but it was really the moment of truth for us.
“So I couldn’t hold back the tears and my staff was the same. We were crying our eyes out.”
Guinea were runners-up in 1976, but this was an era when there were no knockout ties, and the final four were played in a round-robin format to decide the winner.
They had already exited their group in six separate AFCON tournaments this century without going further, including in 2006 when Diawara scored in a 3-2 defeat by Senegal.
This time, however, there are a number of factors pushing for Ethniko Sylis.
For starters, this Cup of Nations is in Ivory Coast, a country bordering Guinea, and Diawara’s team was roared by massive support against Equatorial Guinea.
“In Ivory Coast we’re basically playing at home,” says 48-year-old Diawara, sweat dripping from his head in the midday heat on a shaded terrace overlooking Abidjan’s waterfront.
“There is a very large Guinean community. I even have an older brother who was born here, so in Ivory Coast we might as well be in Guinea. We speak the same language and have the same religion.”
“We are responsible”
The 16’s win sparked wild celebrations on the pitch, but Diavara felt compelled to call the fans back home to calm down.
This came after six people were killed amid celebrations in the capital Conakry after the team lost 1-0 to Gambia during the group stage.
Guinea is also reeling from another tragedy in December, when 24 people died and hundreds were injured in a massive explosion and fire at a fuel depot in Conakry.
“We are responsible,” Diawara says of the latest disaster.
“It was because of our victory. People are so happy when the team wins that the celebrations get a little silly.
“Of course there should be celebrations. Of course there was the disaster (in December), but that’s it, we want to avoid mourning more deaths.”
“Special” Guirassy
Diawara, who was born in France and played there for Bordeaux, Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille and Nice, took charge of the team ahead of the final Nations Cup in 2022, replacing France’s Didier Six.
He quickly made it his mission to tap into the large number of European-born players of Guinean heritage.
That means a squad that already contained midfielder Naby Keita, once of Liverpool, has since been bolstered by defender Mukhtar Diahabi and forward Serge Guerassi, both former France youth internationals.
Guirassy has only started once so far here due to injury, but the 27-year-old is the big star, having scored 17 goals in 14 Bundesliga games this season for Stuttgart.
“I don’t like to single out one player. I prefer to talk about the team, the team, the family even. But it’s true that you can’t score 17 goals in the Bundesliga without being a special player.” says the coach.
“Beyond that, however, Africa has its own special characteristics, it is completely different from Europe.
“There is the heat, the climate in general, the pitches. The Nations Cup is a great event and it’s a very high level. So you have to adapt.
“He was injured, but he is gradually coming back and is now 100 percent fit.”
It remains to be seen whether he will field Bayo against DR Congo, however.
Guinea, who finished third in their group behind Senegal and Cameroon, now hope to make more history.
“When you go to a competition, the aim is to get to the end, even if we’ve never been lucky enough to get to the semi-finals before.
“This time we can see that the way is opening for us.”
© 2024 AFP