Guinea head coach Paulo Duarte has opted against parking in the pre-match press conference for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying opener against Bafana Bafana.
The 57-year-old has overseen five games for the national team since his appointment, with one win, two draws and two defeats, rising the pressure on the West Africans coming to Orlando Amstel Arena this weekend.
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This is off the back of their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, but with a new look team brimming with young talent, there’s a expectation for a strong start to make a statement against Bafana.
“There’s no valid reason, I can say for the head coach, he just didn’t want to come, he’s decided to focus on the pitch, focus on the players because they have the training session now,” the translator said as the opening statement.
“So, I have tried to convince him to come to the press conference. But he didn’t want to come, so that’s it.”
Mamadouba Sylla, who was presented as the third assistant coach, alongside Mory Konaté of Al Hazem, arrived for the briefing in what could only be interpreted as mind games from the visitors.
The Portuguese head coach has a long history in African football, having coached Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Togo.
Guinea take on Bafana on Saturday afternoon at the Orlando Amstel Arena at 15h00.