Liverpool fans: get to know Naby Keita’s national side – Guinea

Current Guinean side

Of course, the beacon of light in the current Guinean team is Naby Keita. The former RB Leipzig man is as well-rounded a midfielder as you are likely to see.

He can pass, tackle, carry the ball through congested areas, and has an uncanny combination of pace and perception to cause turnovers. And he does it all with a ferocity that a pint-sized kid needed to gain respect playing on the streets of Conakry.

In an interview with Goal, Keita reflected on how his barefooted formative years helped him develop into the force he is today:

"“We would play anywhere there was open space, which was often on the street and we would have to dodge the cars! I was bumped so many times, but I kept going because I never wanted to lose possession. Nothing could separate me from the ball and I learnt so much from my experiences on the street.”"

However, Keita alone cannot take the nation back to the heights of the 70s.

From France, to Spain, Turkey, to Serbia, the current squad are scattered across European leagues. Although most feature in their respective premier divisions, it would be false to claim any are near to Keita’s pedigree.

The closest is Borussia Monchengladbach’s Ibrahima Traore whose savvy and experience is vital to the side. 22-year-old Francois Kamano, who netted eight times for Bordeaux last season, also offers genuine quality and is a real threat up front. Issiaga Sylla is the most accomplished in defense, but the side has a habit of leaking goals and craves a Bobo Balde-esque colossus at the back.

Another couple of recognizable names hovering near the squad are Florentin and Mathias Pogba. At a glance, you could be forgiven for mistaking the twins for their brother Paul; however, the difference is rather more discernible on the field.

One can’t help but let their mind wander to what a formidable midfield Guinea would boast if Paul, as well as Napoli sensation Amadou Diawara, had opted to line up alongside Keita in the colors of Guinea (Diawara seemingly biding his time for Italian citizenship to represent the Azzurri).

AFCON qualification

But there is still every reason to be optimistic for the Syli nationale. They sit top of their AFCON qualifying group after Keita struck the winner in a 3-2 victory over the Ivory Coast. With a couple of amiable fixtures to come Guinea will hope to all but cement their place in the tournament which takes place in Cameroon next June.

On Sunday they host the Central African Republic who lie 108th in the FIFA rankings; while, Rwanda visit Conakry in the following fixture.

Beyond the AFCON the goal will be to qualify for a World Cup – a feat the country has not yet managed but something Naby Keita will hope to change.

At just 23 years of age the young captain is more than capable of taking them there himself; while, watching Naby flourish in Merseyside will no doubt inspire the next generation of young boys dodging traffic in the streets of Conakry.