14 November 2009
Guinea need at least a point from their final 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations Group E qualifier against Cote d'Ivoire in Abidjan today to have any chance of winning a place in Angola next year.
Newly-appointed Guinea coach Mamadi Souare has caused a massive controversy however, as he selected his brother Ibrahima, who is currently without a club and has yet to feature in the qualifiers at all.
Ibrahima last played club football for Greek second division side Kerkyra in April, while his last appearance for the national side came at the 2006 Nations Cup in Egypt.
It sparked angry scenes back in Conakry, which fans suggesting this should be the first and last game Mamadi Souare takes charge of. That sentiment is likely to be forgotten if Guinea make it through to the Nations Cup though.
For that to happen they need a point in Abidjan and then hope Malawi get beaten in Burkina Faso, as they currently trail the Malawians by a single point.
Their cause has been helped somewhat by the withdrawal of Cote d'Ivoire star man Didier Drogba from The Elephants' squad after he collected an injury playing for Chelsea against Manchester United at the weekend.
Drogba joins the Olympique Marseille striker Bakary Kone on the injury list for the match in Abidjan but might still be available for the friendly international against Germany in Gelsenkirchen next Wednesday.
The Ivoriens have already qualified for the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.
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