Latest news with #SouleymaneCamara
CAF
18-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Guinea
Guinea returns to the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) for their fourth appearance with high hopes of claiming the title. After missing the 2022 edition, the Syli National are determined to build on their best-ever performance in 2020, where they finished third. Under the leadership of Souleymane Camara, who guided the team through the qualifiers, Guinea is poised to be one of the tournament's standout teams. Factfile Nickname : Syli National : Syli National Number of Appearances : 3 (2016, 2018, 2020) : 3 (2016, 2018, 2020) Best Performance: 3rd Place (2020) How They Qualified Guinea secured their place at CHAN 2024 by defeating Guinea-Bissau with an emphatic 6-2 aggregate victory in the second stage of qualifiers. The Syli National dominated the first leg 4-1 in Abidjan and completed the job with a 2-1 away win in Bissau. Player to Watch Mohamed Saliou Bangoura (Hafia FC):At just 20 years old, Bangoura has emerged as Guinea's key player. A versatile forward with speed, technique, and exceptional finishing ability, Bangoura was instrumental in Guinea's qualification, scoring in both legs against Guinea-Bissau. With his sharp attacking instincts, he will be a constant threat to defenders in the CHAN tournament. Coach Souleymane Camara: Although Camara successfully led Guinea through qualification, he will not be on the bench at CHAN due to CAF's licensing requirements. Known for his tactical acumen and preference for the 4-3-3 formation, Camara has laid a strong foundation for the team, ensuring they arrive at CHAN 2024 well-prepared and confident. What to Expect Guinea aims to go one step further and lift the CHAN trophy for the first time. The team is buoyed by their recent qualifying performances and a talented squad of emerging stars. Known for their attacking flair and resilience, the Syli National will look to build on their 2020 bronze medal-winning campaign and make a strong statement in East Africa. Fan Zone Did You Know? Guinea's CHAN team is the country's sole representative in African competitions in 2025.
CAF
16-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Guinea line-up Burkina Faso, CAR friendlies ahead of CHAN
Published: Wednesday, 16 July 2025 Guinea have lined up two high-profile friendly matches against Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic (CAR) as part of their final preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024. The Syli Local are scheduled to face fellow CHAN-bound nations in Douala, Cameroon, in what will be their final competitive tests before the tournament kicks off on 2 August in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The Guinean Football Federation (FGF) confirmed that the matches will take place behind closed doors, with the first friendly scheduled against Burkina Faso on 24 July, followed by a second fixture against the Central African Republic on 28 July. The two opponents represent a serious test for coach Souleymane Camara's side, with both teams also eyeing strong runs at CHAN 2024. Burkina Faso have emerged as one of the rising forces in West African football, while the Central African Republic are determined to impress in their return to the competition. 'These matches are more than just friendlies – they are a benchmark to test our progress and readiness for the tournament,' said head coach Camara. 'We expect two competitive games that will give us the clearest picture yet of our strengths and the areas we still need to improve.' The warm-up games come at the tail end of Guinea's second phase of preparation, following a six-day intensive camp in Morocco that runs from 13 to 19 July. The team arrived in North Africa to focus on tactical drills and build team chemistry before flying to Cameroon for the friendlies. Guinea will be making their fourth appearance at CHAN and have set their sights on a historic final after reaching the semi-finals in 2016 and 2020. They are drawn into a challenging Group C alongside Algeria, Uganda, South Africa, and Niger – a pool that offers no easy fixtures. Camara has placed a strong emphasis on discipline and mental strength throughout the team's buildup, and the two friendlies are expected to play a critical role in finalising his squad selection and preferred starting XI. The CHAN 2024 tournament features national teams made up exclusively of players who play in their domestic leagues, offering a platform to showcase local talent on the continental stage.
CAF
15-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Guinea begin pre-CHAN 2024 training camps in Morocco and Cameroon
Published: Tuesday, 15 July 2025 Guinea have stepped up their preparations for the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a two-phase training programme in Morocco and Cameroon as they target a breakthrough performance at the continental tournament co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Syli Local touched down in Morocco on Sunday to begin a six-day intensive camp, which will run from July 13 to 19, before they travel to Douala, Cameroon, for a final warm-up series of friendlies ahead of the competition's August 2 kickoff. Head coach Souleymane Camara and his technical team are overseeing daily double sessions in North Africa as the West African side looks to fine-tune tactics, build fitness, and foster team cohesion. The team is scheduled to play two high-level warm-up matches in Douala against fellow CHAN 2024 participants Burkina Faso (July 24) and Central African Republic (July 28). The Guinean Football Federation (FGF) confirmed that both friendlies, along with all training sessions, will be held behind closed doors to ensure maximum focus and tactical secrecy. This year's tournament marks Guinea's fourth appearance at CHAN, having previously featured in 2016, 2018, and 2020. The Syli Local's best run came in 2016 and 2020, when they reached the semi-finals but fell short of reaching the final – losing to DR Congo and Mali respectively. Coach Camara is hopeful that this carefully structured preparation schedule will give his players the competitive edge required to go all the way. 'We want to break the barrier and reach the final for the first time,' he said ahead of the training camp. Guinea have been drawn in a tricky Group C alongside Algeria, Uganda, South Africa, and Niger – a group that promises high drama and fierce competition. The team's experience, mixed with fresh local talent, could make them a serious threat in the race for continental glory. CHAN 2024 runs from 2 to 30 August across three host nations – Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania – and features 16 of Africa's top national teams composed exclusively of home-based players.
CAF
09-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Guinea coach Camara looks beyond scoreline in CHAN 2024 preparations
Published: Wednesday, 09 July 2025 Guinea's home-based national team wrapped up a vital stage of their 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) build-up this week, using back-to-back clashes with regional rivals Senegal to sharpen their competitive edge ahead of the tournament. Although the Syli Local lost the second match 1-0 in Diamniadio on Monday—following a goalless draw in the first leg—head coach Souleymane Camara says his side came away with more than just a result. 'Performance, not the scoreboard, was our main focus,' said Camara, who led the team through five days of intensive preparation split between Conakry and Dakar. 'We wanted to give every player time on the pitch. These games offered us real test conditions to fine-tune our game plan.' The two encounters, far from gentle friendlies, were fiercely contested, highlighting the stakes involved even before the CHAN group stages begin in August. Camara underlined the competitive tone of the fixtures. 'It wasn't a friendly for us. This was high-intensity football. "These games were rich in lessons, and we'll go back with valuable footage and insights to help us fix the details before the tournament kicks off.' Despite the narrow defeat, Camara expressed optimism about the overall structure of the team, particularly in defence. 'Our organisation at the back held firm under pressure, which is encouraging. Offensively, we lacked sharpness in the final third. That's an area we're targeting in the next phase.' Guinea will now shift their base to Morocco, where an extended training camp is expected to further refine tactics, fitness, and cohesion ahead of CHAN 2024, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Drawn into Group C, Guinea will face stiff competition against Algeria, Uganda, South Africa, and Niger. But with valuable match rhythm and tactical clarity gained from their Senegal outings, the West Africans will be eyeing a strong tournament start in early August.
CAF
13-02-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Final Draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d'Ivoire 2025 Concludes in Cairo
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) conducted the Final Draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d'Ivoire 2025 on Thursday, 13 February 2025, at CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. The draw event was attended by CAF executives and invited guests with former Mali international Adama Coulibaly and Senegal legend Souleymane Camara acting as draw assistants. The tournament, set to take place from 26 April to 18 May 2025, will feature 13 teams competing for continental glory and four qualification spots for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025. The draw produced exciting group stage fixtures, with heavyweight clashes expected from the opening rounds as record title holders Nigeria were among three former winners placed in the same group. The Flying Eagles will play in Group B where they will face former champions Egypt and Morocco as well as South Africa. In Group A, hosts Côte d'Ivoire will take on DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and a second representative from the UNIFFAC region, making it one of the most competitive groups. Group C sees Senegal begin their title defence against Zambia, Kenya, and Sierra Leone, promising another fiercely contested group. The TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON 2025 will follow a three-group format, with Group A containing five teams, while Groups B and C each feature four teams. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams. From there, the tournament will proceed in a knockout format, culminating in the final on 18 May 2025. Additionally, the four semi-finalists will book their place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025 later this year, continuing Africa's proud tradition of excellence on the world stage. Senegal, the defending champions, are chasing a second title after winning in Egypt 2023. However, they will face stiff competition from Nigeria, the most successful team in the tournament's history with seven titles (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015). Ghana, another continental powerhouse, will look to reclaim the title, having won it four times and making history in 2009 by becoming the first and only African team to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Egypt, Morocco, and Zambia, all former champions, will also be looking to make an impact, while Côte d'Ivoire aims to shine on home soil. The groups of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d'Ivoire 2025 Group A Group B Group C Cote d'Ivoire Nigeria Senegal UNIFFAC 2* Egypt Zambia DR Congo South Africa Kenya Ghana Morocco Sierra Leone Tanzania - - -ENDS- For more details on the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, please visit Further Enquiries: CAF Communications communications@
