Guinea head coach Paulo Duarte has publicly criticised Ilaix Moriba (Celta Vigo), accusing him of making the number 10 a condition of his arrival in the national team, according to Sudinfo. The row comes alongside the midfielder’s absence from the Guinea squad.
Paulo Duarte, Guinea’s head coach, took aim at Ilaix Moriba, the Celta Vigo midfielder, after the win against Eritrea. According to Sudinfo, he reproaches the 23-year-old for having made the number 10 a condition of his arrival in the national team.
The remarks reported by the outlet are blunt: “He says he wants the No 10. But why do you want the 10, you? Tell me, why? The 10 belongs to someone else. He’s had the 10 for two years. He’s been suffering here for two years. He works, he comes, he wins, he loses.” The outburst comes as Moriba did not take part in the squad gathering, with the Federation having announced his withdrawal without specifying the reason.
A number 10 at the heart of the dispute
Duarte therefore accuses Moriba of having tied his presence to being granted the number 10. He continued his attack by invoking the great wearers of that shirt: “There are people who want the 10. Maradona, Zico… Maybe you are still too small to wear the 10. When you have an oversized ego, only your own self matters.”
According to the Hupu forum, the number 10 currently belongs to Aliou Badara Baldé, the Guinea winger playing for St Gallen in Switzerland. The same source indicates that Moriba has already worn that number with Guinea, but that he has recently been playing with the 7. These elements, from a source yet to be corroborated, have not been officially confirmed.
The player’s entourage reacted through the Spanish press to deny any blackmail linked to the shirt number. According to those close to him, Moriba’s absence is explained by a medical decision taken with his club to treat persistent physical discomfort.
An absence that fuels the row
Moriba’s withdrawal, announced by the Federation without an official reason, served as the detonator. By publicly criticising his player, Duarte gave this absence a media dimension. The attack comes after a success against Eritrea, as Guinea prepare for the rest of their qualifiers.
His entourage insists that his physical discomfort requires treatment, while the head coach questions the player’s attitude. Between the two versions, the number 10 remains the point of friction.
Back to the pitch for Guinea
Guinea must now focus on their next fixture: the match Eritrea – Guinea on 16 November 2026, for the 4th round of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
It is not yet known whether Moriba will make the trip. The question remains open between his entourage’s version and the head coach’s.