Naby Keita’s adviser has publicly challenged Guinea manager Paulo Duarte’s explanation for the midfielder’s continued omission from the national team.
Keita had received a provisional call-up and indicated he was ready to return to the Syli national. However, his name was missing from Duarte’s squad for Guinea’s two Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Eritrea on 12 and 16 November.
The decision prompted a strong response from Keita’s adviser, Thierno Amadou Makadji, after Duarte was asked about the absence of several experienced players, including Keita, Mohamed Bayo and Morgan Guilavogui.
Duarte said he wanted to work only with players who responded positively to his requests. Makadji, however, accused the Guinea manager of failing to provide the full account of what had happened.
The adviser also objected to any suggestion that Keita’s commitment to the Syli national was in doubt.
“He has no lesson in patriotism to give Naby,” Makadji said, according to comments reported by Mosaique Guinee.
He pointed to the risks Keita took to play for Guinea at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations while returning from injury. Makadji urged Duarte to take responsibility for his selection decisions rather than “hiding behind excuses” or describing former senior players as “stateless”.
The dispute marks a sharp change in tone from Duarte’s comments in September. At that time, the manager said Keita, who plays for Ferencvaros, remained “an option” and insisted there was no problem between them.
Two months later, the disagreement has become public, with Duarte and Keita’s camp offering different accounts of the player’s absence.
Keita has not played for Guinea since the Syli national’s quarter-final defeat by DR Congo at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on 2 February 2024. His apparent willingness to return had raised the possibility of an international comeback, but the exchange between his adviser and Duarte has made that prospect less certain.
Guinea’s latest squad omission means Keita will not be involved in either of the forthcoming matches against Eritrea, leaving the midfielder’s return to the national side unresolved.
