By Administrator,
GUINEA is one of the West African countries, the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak but when their players arrived in Kampala on Sunday night for their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Wednesday, Ugandan authorities tried to cope as well as they could.
All the passengers in the incoming flight at Entebbe International Airport went through a thorough medical check-up over the Ebola disease.
The entire Guinean soccer entourage was subsequently allowed to travel into Kampala but found the hotel booked for them by FUFA [Federation of Uganda Football Associations] would not let them in.
Grand Global Hotel claimed they were full despite FUFA having had the booking confirmed well in advance. Observers claimed the hotel was wary of the visitors’ health situation but a hotel staff who answered the phone, Hilary Nasaba, denied it.
“It had nothing to do with Ebola fear. It is because we were over booked. FUFA made the booking days ago but some other people were also already in,” The Daily Monitor quoted him.
The team eventually settled at J-Frigh Hotel at Makerere Kikoni.
On Monday morning, the Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer said all his players wanted was a bit quiet, rest, in order to focus on a “difficult match on Wednesday.”
Dussuyer’s team virtually comprises, in any case, players not residing in Guinea. They had assembled abroad then to travel to a neutral Casablanca, Morocco where they played their first match last Friday and beat Togo 2-1.
He said they were aware that Uganda and added: “A strong team, which performs very well when they play at home; we know all that.
“They also performed very well in their first game in Ghana with a [1-1] draw and we expect a very tough game with them. I know some players. They have some key players who should worry us — the captain Mwesigwa [Andrew], and Kizito [Luwagga] the forward who played very well against Ghana and of course Massa [Geoffrey]. I take in lots of information.”
He was also knew of other things to expect: “A very difficult pitch, first
“We are used to seeing a pitch that is not so good. And so we expect Uganda to play a strong game at home and as I said it will be difficult but we are there to fight and get a good result.”
Uganda last lost at home in 2004 against South Africa and the last time they met with Guinea it was a 4-4 goal thriller draw in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers clash.
Recent players in the Guinea squad:
(Guinea clubs unless stated)
Kemoko Camara, Gk – (Kaloum Star)
Djibril Paye, DF – (Zulte Waregem, Belgium)
Kamil Zayatte, DF – (Sheffield Wednesday, England)
Alseny Camara, DF – (Vendee Poire-Survie, France)
Mamadou Mara, DF – (Arles-Avignon, France)
Lanfia Camara, DF – (Brussels, Belgium)
Ibrahima Traore, MF – (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany)
Habib Balde, MF – (Universitatea Cluj, Belgium)
Mohamed Sakho, MF – (Olympique Safi, Morocco)
Soulaymane Youla, FW – (Budapest Honved, Hungary)
Salim Cisse, FW – (Arouca, Portugal)
Naby Yattara, Gk – (Arles-Avignon, France)
Abdul Aziz Keita, Gk – (Kaloum Star)
Thierno Bah, DF (Al-Khaleej, UAE)
Issa Sylla, DF – (Toulouse, France)
Aboubacar Bwanga Camara, DF (Kaloum Star)
Mohammed Diarra, DF – (OB, Denmark)
Fode Camara, DF – (Horoya)
Florentin Pogba, DF – (St Etienne, France)
Baissana Sankoh, DF – (Guingamp, France)
Abdoulaye Cisse, DF – (Fello Star)
Aboubacar Camara, DF – (Horoya)
Kevin Constant, MF – (Trabzonspor, Turkey)
Ibrahima Conte, MF – (Anderlecht, Belgium)
Sadio Diallo, MF – (Lorient, France)
Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, MF – (Horoya)
Seydouba Soumah, MF – (Slovan Bratislava, Slovakia)
Guy-Michel Landel, MF – (Orduspor, Turkey)
Boubacar Fofana, MF – (Nacional, Portugal)
Naby Keita, MF – (Istres, France)
Ismail Bangoura, FW – (Nantes, France)
Alhassane Bangoura, FW – (Rayo Vallecano, Spain)
Mohamed Yattara, FW – (Lyon, France)
Idrissa Sylla, FW – (Zulte Waregem, Belgium)
Aboubacar Demba Camara, FW – (Ajaccio, France)
