Guinea Vs Ethiopia

Guinea is set to host Ethiopia at Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro this Saturday evening in a crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match. As the two teams prepare to face off, the stakes are high for both sides. Guinea, nicknamed the National Elephants, will be looking to secure their first points in the qualifying campaign, while Ethiopia, also in a precarious position, will aim for their first win to stay in the race for a spot in the prestigious continental tournament.

Match Preview

Guinea enters this encounter under immense pressure after a disappointing start to their AFCON qualifying campaign. In their opening match, they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a match that exposed some of their weaknesses both in attack and defense. The National Elephants had hoped to bounce back quickly, but just days later, they were dealt another blow, this time losing 2-1 to Tanzania.

In the match against Tanzania, Guinea had taken the lead in the 57th minute thanks to a goal from forward Mohamed Bayo. However, their advantage was short-lived, as Tanzania equalized just four minutes later. Guinea's hopes of salvaging a point were dashed in the 88th minute when they conceded again, leading to a second consecutive defeat in the qualifying campaign. This loss was particularly painful given how close they were to at least earning a draw. The result means that Guinea has now lost three consecutive matches across all competitions, including a 1-0 defeat at home to Mozambique in a World Cup qualifying match earlier in June.

This run of poor form has put Guinea in a precarious position in their AFCON qualifying group. Despite their history of regular participation in Africa’s biggest football tournament—having featured in eight of the last 11 AFCON editions—their dream of competing in the 2025 tournament is fading quickly. Currently sitting at the bottom of Group H after two straight defeats, Guinea faces an uphill battle to turn things around and reignite their hopes of qualifying.

Head coach Charles Paquille will be acutely aware of the importance of Saturday’s clash against Ethiopia. The National Elephants have no room for further slip-ups, and Paquille will be urging his players to capitalize on the fact that they are facing an opponent they have historically dominated. Guinea has beaten Ethiopia in all four of their previous meetings, with all of those encounters coming in AFCON qualifiers. The team’s ability to continue this winning streak could be key to salvaging their campaign.

However, Guinea’s current form is a far cry from their past performances. In addition to their AFCON qualifying struggles, the team has also underperformed in recent World Cup qualifiers. The home loss to Mozambique, which took place in June, highlighted some of the defensive frailties that have plagued the team, and they have struggled to find consistency in attack. For a team that has been a mainstay in the AFCON tournaments over the last two decades, the current situation is unfamiliar and concerning. But Saturday’s game presents a chance for redemption, and a win could kick-start their qualifying campaign.

Ethiopia’s Struggles in Attack

On the other side of the pitch, Ethiopia also enters the match with their own set of challenges. The Walia Ibex, as they are known, have struggled to find their rhythm in the early stages of the AFCON qualifiers. Like Guinea, Ethiopia has yet to secure a win in the campaign, and their attacking prowess—or lack thereof—has been a major concern. In their opening match, Ethiopia played out a goalless draw against Tanzania, a game in which they failed to register a single shot on target. This lack of offensive threat set the tone for what has been a frustrating qualifying campaign so far.

Ethiopia’s second match was against the Democratic Republic of Congo, a game that ended in a 2-0 defeat for the Walia Ibex. Although Ethiopia managed to get one shot on target in that match, their overall attacking output was once again poor. The team’s inability to create and convert goal-scoring opportunities has been a recurring issue. Ethiopia has now failed to score in six of their last nine matches, a worrying trend for head coach Gebremedhin Haile, who will need to find solutions quickly if his side is to have any chance of progressing to the 2025 AFCON.

One of the most glaring statistics from Ethiopia’s recent performances is that they are one of only five teams in the current AFCON qualifying series that have yet to score a single goal. While their defensive efforts have kept them from being completely overrun—especially in the goalless draw against Tanzania—the lack of goals is a significant problem. Ethiopia’s struggles in front of goal could be their undoing if they cannot find a way to break their drought against Guinea.

Despite their attacking woes, Ethiopia currently sits third in Group H with one point, ahead of Guinea, who have yet to secure any points. While this may seem like a small consolation, it puts Ethiopia in a better position than their opponents heading into Saturday’s match. However, the Walia Ibex will be keenly aware that a loss to Guinea could see them slip to the bottom of the group, a scenario that would leave them with a mountain to climb in the remaining qualifiers.

Ethiopia’s AFCON History and Future Prospects

Ethiopia’s history in the Africa Cup of Nations is a rich one, with their most notable achievement coming in 1962 when they won the tournament on home soil. However, in recent decades, Ethiopia has struggled to reestablish itself as a dominant force in African football. They missed out on the last AFCON tournament and have only qualified for the competition twice in the last 12 editions, in 2013 and 2021. As a result, the pressure is on Gebremedhin Haile and his players to perform in this qualifying campaign.

Ethiopia’s aim is to qualify for their third AFCON in the last four editions, but their performances so far in this campaign have raised concerns. The lack of goals is undoubtedly the most pressing issue, but there are also questions about the team’s ability to compete at the highest level. The Walia Ibex will need to step up their game significantly if they are to challenge for a place in the 2025 tournament.

The upcoming double-header against Guinea represents a pivotal moment for Ethiopia. If they can find a way to get points from these two matches, their chances of qualifying will receive a significant boost. A win on Saturday would not only lift them above Guinea but could also provide the confidence boost they desperately need. On the other hand, a defeat would leave them in a precarious position, with just one point from three matches and their chances of qualifying fading fast.

Key Players to Watch

For Guinea, much of the attacking burden will fall on the shoulders of Mohamed Bayo, the team’s standout forward. Bayo has been one of the few bright spots for Guinea in recent matches, and his goal against Tanzania showed that he has the ability to make a difference in crucial moments. Bayo will need to be at his best on Saturday if Guinea is to break their losing streak and get their qualifying campaign back on track.

In midfield, Guinea will look to Naby Keita, the former Liverpool star who now plies his trade with Werder Bremen in the German Bundesliga. Keita’s experience and creativity in midfield will be key to unlocking Ethiopia’s defense, and his leadership on the pitch will be crucial for a team that has struggled for confidence in recent matches.

For Ethiopia, much of the focus will be on their defense, which has been relatively solid despite the team’s attacking struggles. Center-back Aschalew Tamene has been a rock at the back, and his ability to marshal the defense will be crucial if Ethiopia is to keep Guinea at bay.

In attack, Ethiopia will hope that Getaneh Kebede can rediscover his goal-scoring form. Kebede, one of Ethiopia’s most experienced forwards, has struggled to make an impact in recent matches, but he remains one of the team’s most potent attacking threats. If Kebede can find the back of the net on Saturday, it could provide the spark that Ethiopia needs to turn their fortunes around.

Conclusion

Saturday’s match between Guinea and Ethiopia promises to be a tense and closely contested affair. Both teams are desperate for points as they look to revive their AFCON qualifying campaigns. For Guinea, a win is essential if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the 2025 AFCON alive, while Ethiopia will be hoping to secure their first victory and move one step closer to their goal of returning to Africa’s biggest stage.

With so much at stake, this encounter is likely to be a fiercely competitive battle, with both sides leaving everything on the pitch. Guinea will be looking to their history of success against Ethiopia as a source of confidence, while the Walia Ibex will be hoping to break their winless streak against the National Elephants and make a statement in Yamoussoukro.

Ultimately, the outcome of this match could have significant implications for the future of both teams in the AFCON qualifying campaign. Whether it’s Guinea reigniting their hopes or Ethiopia securing a vital win, the stage is set for a dramatic encounter in the heart of West Africa.