Absent from Paulo Duarte’s squad for the matches against Eritrea, Ferencvaros midfielder Naby Keita sees his return to the national team called into question. His adviser Thierno Amadou Makadji publicly disputes the national coach’s version of events.
Naby Keita is not on coach Paulo Duarte’s list for the Syli national team’s next two outings. According to Ghana Soccer Net, the Ferencvaros midfielder had nonetheless been included in the provisional squad and had indicated he was ready to return to the national team. He will therefore miss the AFCON 2027 qualifying matches against Eritrea, scheduled for 12 and 16 November.
The matter goes beyond a simple omission. Thierno Amadou Makadji, the player’s adviser, has publicly disputed the explanation put forward by the coach, whom he accuses of not giving the full picture. His remarks, relayed by Mosaique Guinee and picked up by Ghana Soccer Net, give this sporting decision a public dimension that goes beyond the squad.
Duarte explains his absentees
The coach justified the absence of several senior players by saying he wanted to work only with players who had responded positively to his requests. Besides Keita, Mohamed Bayo and Morgan Guilavogui are also missing from the squad selected for the double-header.
The message contrasts with the one given in September. At the time, Duarte said the Ferencvaros player remained “an option” and that there was no problem between them, according to Ghana Soccer Net.
The adviser speaks out
Thierno Amadou Makadji did not let the explanation pass. Keita’s adviser accuses the coach of not telling the whole truth about the reasons for this absence. In remarks relayed by Mosaique Guinee, he said of Duarte: “He is in no position to lecture Naby on patriotism.”
These are accusations made by the adviser, not established facts. They nonetheless leave the coach facing a public challenge.
More than two years without the Syli
Keita’s last match in the Guinean shirt dates back to the quarter-final defeat to DR Congo at AFCON 2023, on 2 February 2024. Since then, the midfielder has not played for the Syli, which makes the announced then compromised return all the more sensitive.
The two matches, Guinea v Eritrea on 12 November 2026 and then Eritrea v Guinea on 16 November 2026, will therefore be played without the Ferencvaros midfielder.