Sinan RAJUB SENOGA
Uganda Cranes will open up their new 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification campaign with a duel against Guinea on Friday 17th November in Morocco.
Guinea will however be without their inspirational captain Naby Keita despite being named in the 23-man squad for their opening two fixtures against Uganda and Botswana.
The former Liverpool midfielder who now features for Werder Bremen has pulled out of the squad as he nears full recovery and comeback from a thigh injury having been out of action since October 7th.
Bremen’s head of football and club legend Clemens Fritz told BILD that Keita pulled out of the squad so as to fully recover from injury and will be expected to play the club’s immediate encounter after the international break against Frankfurt.
“Naby called the national coach on Saturday evening and informed him of his cancellation. He will continue to work his way back in Bremen step by step so that he will be available to us again after the international break.” Fritz said.
Guinea captain Naby Keita has pulled out of the squad that will face Uganda 🇺🇬 in the World Cup Qualifiers on Friday.
The former Liverpool midfielder (now at Bremen), is set to recover from a thigh injury & will be expected to return to action after the international break. pic.twitter.com/gwsWe7Kfon
— SINAN 🇺🇬 (@SinanRajub) November 13, 2023
In Keita’s absence, Stuttgart in-form striker Serhou Guirassy is expected to lead the West African nation against Uganda.
Guirassy is the second leading scorer in the Bundesliga (behind Bayern’s Harry Kane), having scored 15 goals in the nine games he has played so far.
Guinea and Uganda are pitted in Group G that also has Algeria, Mozambique, Botswana and Somalia.
Full Guinea Squad
Goalkeepers:
• Ibrahim Koné (Hibernians FC, Malta)
• Aly Kéita (Ostersunds, Sweden)
• Moussa Camara (Horoya AC, Guinea)
Defenders:
• Sékou Oumar Sylla (SC Cambuur, Netherlands)
• Naby Youssouf Oularé (Boluspor, Turkey)
• Julian Jeanvier (Kayserispor, Turkey)
• Saidou Sow (Strasbourg, France)
• Abdourahmane Barry (Amiens SC, France)
• Mohamed Ali Camara (Young Boys, Switzerland)
• Dembo Sylla (Lorient, France)
• Antoine Conté (Botev Plovdiv, Bulgaria)
Midfielders:
• Amadou Diawara (Anderlecht, Belgium)
• Abdoulaye Touré (Le Havre, France)
• Seydouba Cissé (Leganes, Spain)
• Mory Konaté (KV Malines, Belgium)
• Moriba Kourouma (RB Leipzig, Germany)
Forwards:
• François Kamano (Abha FC, Saudi Arabia)
• Morgan Guilavogui (RC Lens, France)
• Karim Cissé (AS Saint-Étienne, France)
• Aguibou Camara (Atromitos, Greece)
• Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart, Germany)
• Mohamed Bayo (Le Havre, France)
