Guinea: Paulo Duarte loses two key players ahead of Mozambique and Botswana

World Cup 2026 06 October 2025 at 06:34

Paulo Duarte

A major blow for the Syli National as the 9th and 10th rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers approach. Two major absences have been confirmed.

In the past few hours, Guinea’s Syli National has been hit with bad news, just days before the crucial 9th and 10th rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Key defenders Mouctar Diakhaby and Issiaga Sylla have been forced to withdraw from the October squad. They will miss the vital clashes against Mozambique on October 9, 2025, and Botswana on October 14, 2025.

The Syli National headquarters opens in Maputo where the training camp officially begins.

14 arrivals were recorded this morning, bringing the squad to 17 players already present this Monday at the training base.

The operation is underway: 6 points at stake.

First challenge, Mozambique on the 9th… pic.twitter.com/z1aIEGmEhM
— Fédération Guinéenne de Football (@fgfofficiel) October 6, 2025

The absence of these two key players in the heart of the defense and on the left flank represents a real challenge for head coach Paulo Duarte, who will have to rethink his defensive setup.

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