Without Guirassy and Keïta, Guineans draw AFCON opener against Cameroon
Without VfB Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy and SV Werder Bremen attacking midfielder Naby Keïta, Kaba Diawara's Guinean national team only managed a 1-1 draw in their opening AFCON match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
The "National Elephants" - reduced to ten-men after a red card at the end of the first half - held off the West African powerhouse for an entire half shorthanded, conceding just only a 1-1 equalizer. Rigobert Song's Cameroon pushed hard for a winner, but were unable to break the deadlock.
Only one of the Bundesliga's three representatives in the Guinean national team made an appearance in the country's opening group stage match against Cameroon on Monday evening. Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy - hampered by a muscle strain - was unable to feature in head-coach Kaba Diawara's match-day squad. SV Werder Bremen - troubled by a variety of injuries this season - made the squad, but remained on the bench.
The "National Elephants" - reduced to ten-men after a red card at the end of the first half - held off the West African powerhouse for an entire half shorthanded, conceding just only a 1-1 equalizer. Rigobert Song's Cameroon pushed hard for a winner, but were unable to break the deadlock.
That left congenitally loaned out RB Leipzig central midfielder Ilaix Moriba, who was recently sent out on loan yet again to Getafe in the country of his upbringing. The 20-year-old played the full 90 minutes, racking up nearly fifty touches, recording two efforts on target, and remaining involved in the attack via three long dribbles and two crosses.
Guinea's Mohammed Bayo was able to open the scoring in the 10th after capitalizing on a failed clearance from the heavily-favored 2017 AFCON champions. The smaller nation continued to keep the five-time African continental champions on their heels, supplying the much better football over the course of the opening 45. The advantage could have been doubled on two occasions.
A fine first half nevertheless came to an unfortunate close when Guinean winger Francois Kamano was sent off on a red card at 45+3. Frank Magri netted the equalizer for the Indomitable Lions six minutes after the restart. Rigobert Song's Cameroonians pushed for a winner. Guinean keeper Ibrahim Koné preserved the draw with a pair of quality saves near the end.