Serhou Guirassy showed his influence without scoring as Guinea began their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-1 defeat by South Africa.
The Borussia Dortmund striker created Guinea’s equaliser with a free-kick at Orlando Stadium, helping Seydouba Cissé bring the Syli Nationale level after the Bafana Bafana had taken the lead.
South Africa eventually restored their advantage and secured victory, leaving Guinea facing the need for a response when they play Kenya in Conakry on Thursday.
Guirassy entered the qualifying campaign having made an impressive start to the club season. The 30-year-old had scored four goals and provided two assists in six matches before joining up with Guinea.
He has also established himself as a prolific scorer in AFCON qualifying. During the qualifiers for the 2025 tournament, Guirassy scored six goals, a total bettered only by Morocco’s Brahim Diaz.
Despite that record, the Dortmund forward could not find the net in Guinea’s opening match of the new campaign.
He still played an important role in the side’s only goal, however, producing a moment of set-piece quality that eventually allowed Cissé to score.
Guinea were trailing 1-0 in the 69th minute when Guirassy stepped up to take a free-kick from distance.
The delivery went through the South African defensive wall and dropped to Cissé, who had space to control the ball before finishing past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The goal brought Guinea back into the match at 1-1 and highlighted a different aspect of Guirassy’s contribution.
The striker is more commonly associated with his work inside the penalty area, where his height and positioning allow him to finish chances created by others.
On this occasion, he was the player responsible for delivering the set piece.
The free-kick appeared to be intended as an attempt at goal, although Guirassy was unable to get the ball over the South African wall. Instead, the delivery found Cissé, with the Guinea midfielder taking advantage of the opportunity.
Guirassy’s contribution was therefore significant even though his name did not appear on the scoresheet.
It was not an entirely straightforward match for the striker. He won a free-kick early in the game, in the fourth minute, but the opportunity did not lead to a goal.
He was also shown a yellow card towards the end of the first half.
More importantly for Guinea, their equaliser did not ultimately change the result.
South Africa scored again to claim a 2-1 victory and leave Guinea without a point from their opening qualifying fixture.
The result puts added importance on Guinea’s next match, when they will host Kenya in Conakry on Thursday.
Kenya have already qualified as co-hosts but will still provide a challenge for Guinea as they continue their preparations.
Guinea will once again look to Guirassy for attacking inspiration after his involvement in the goal against South Africa.
The forward’s ability to create opportunities remains an important part of the team’s attacking threat, particularly after he demonstrated that he can influence a match even without scoring.
But Guinea will also want their leading forward to return to the role for which he is most widely recognised.
Guirassy’s six goals in the previous AFCON qualifying campaign underline his importance in front of goal, and Guinea will need that scoring ability as they attempt to recover from their opening defeat.
The next opportunity comes at home in Conakry, where the Syli Nationale will face Kenya on Thursday.
After contributing to Guinea’s only goal against South Africa, Guirassy will be expected to provide another attacking threat.
This time, Guinea will hope his influence produces not only chances, but the goals required to get their qualifying campaign moving after a disappointing start.
