They are 18th in Africa and 80th overall according to the FIFA Rankings, they are not considered as one of the continent’s main forces and they don’t even have World Cup memories to boast about. However, the National Elephants have a bigger Nations Cup history than many may recall. In this recap, we bring to mind the various highlights and lowlights of the Guinean national team—controlled by the Fédération Guinéenne de Football and currently managed by Michel Dussuyer.
Guinea’s eventful past
Let’s go way back to the year 1970. That’s when the National Elephants finally experienced African up of Nations football. Seven years before, they got disqualified from Ghana 1963 for failing to provide neutral officials in the second leg of their 3-2 aggregate tie against Nigeria in the qualifiers.
The Guineans kicked off the tournament in Sudan terrifically. In the First Round, they defeated Togo 4-0 at home en route to a 5-1 victory on aggregate. The battle against Senegal turned out to be more difficult, but once again, the Guineans exhibited their power on home soil to go through.
Unfortunately for the team and their supporters, facing reality at the final tournament proved to be a humbling experience. The United Arab Republic brought the mighty National Elephants back to planet Earth by handing them a 4-1 defeat in the group phase. Guinea avoided defeat against Congo-Kinshasa and Ghana but the damaged persisted as semifinal hopes died.
Guinea made a return onto Africa’s biggest football stage 4 years later only to go home after Round 1. In 1976, the National Elephants surprised their continental rivals. Against all the odds, they topped their group above giants Egypt. The Guineans defeated hosts Ethiopia in the process.
In the Final Round in Addis Abeba, Guinea drew 1-1 against Nigeria and stunned Egypt 4-2. However, their failure to beat Morocco in the very last game came at a cost. The National Elephants finished second behind the Moroccans in the table and eventually missed out on the title.
Since then, the Guinean national team has not managed to match this feat. At the 2004 Nations Cup, the Guineans survived pressure in the group stages to qualify as runners-up behind hosts Tunisia. But in the quarter-finals, they National Elephants fainted. Feindouno put his country on the right track with a 15th minute opener but Kanoute and Diarra provided a comeback for Mali.
The Guineans suffered similar disappointment in Egypt 2006. This time, Senegal ousted them from the competition in the Last 8.
The quarter-final defeat in CAN 2008 was harder to take. Avid Guinean fans could only watch as Keita, Drogba, Kalou and Bakari Koné mauled the National Elephants 5-0. This match, which took place on February 3 that year, is actually Guinea’s last so far at a Nations Cup tournament.
Guinea at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations
Can the Guineans make up for missing out on the 2010 AFCON? There’s fire burning in their big belly. Remember that the National Elephants qualified for Gabon-Equatorial Guinea as Group B winners at the expense of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Guinea are in a tough group at the 2012 AFCON. They’ll face the Malians and the Ghanaians against whom they have bad Nations Cup memories. A bad start could mean suicide…
Guinea's 2012 AFCON squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Aboubacar Camara, Abdoul Aziz Keita, Naby Yattara
Defenders: Thierno Bah, Dian Bobo Balde, Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, Lanfia Camara, Morlaye Cisse, Ibrahima Diallo, Kamil Zayatte, Oumar Kalabane
Midfielders: Mamadou Dioulde Bah, Habib Jean Balde, Sadio Diallo, Pascal Feindouno, Naby Soumah
Forwards: Ismaël Bangoura, Alhassane Bangoura, Ibrahima Conte, Ibrahima Traore, Ibrahima Yattara, Abdoul Camara, Ousmane Barry
Read next team profile - Ivory Coast.
