AFCON Focus: Can Ibrahima Traoré Inspire Guinea to AFCON Qualification?

This has been a strange Cup of Nations so far, not because of the quality, which has been fine – other than the last World Cup, has there ever been a tournament in which the world hasn’t spent the first fortnight grumbling about how poor it is? – but because no side has really yet got going. After every team had played two games, nobody had secured qualification and nobody was out, nobody had won both their games, and everybody had at least a point. One player, though, had won two official man of the match awards: Ibrahima Traore Of Guinea. “One for mum and one for dad,” as he said with a grin.

This is a Guinea team on a mission. They won their last two matches in qualification to make it to the tournament, the shadow of Ebola hanging over their campaign. They played home matches in Casablanca with Conakry deemed off limits by CAF, and were effectively kept in quarantine whenever they travelled to away matches. Opposing crowds would chant “Ebola” at them. At the opening game one Guinea fan, clad in the green, yellow and red of the national flag, held aloft a banner proclaiming, “God is great. Come on Guinea, Team of Ebola.”

The team has responded. Most expected them to be the fourth side in a group comprising Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Mali, but they’ve already held Ivory Coast and Cameron to draws and will go through to the quarter-final if they came beat Mali in their final game.

Key to their attacking threat has been Traore, the 26-year-old left-winger from Borussia Mönchengladbach. He scored a stunning equaliser with a smart turn and precise low shot in the 1-1 draw with Cameroon, and excelled in the opening game as well, working the left
flank tirelessly.

He’s averaging 2 shots per game, but what is telling is how sparing he has been. Of those shots, one went in, one was saved, one hit the post and one missed the target. It’s as though there’s been a recognition that possession cannot be wasted, that shots are only to be undertaken when there is a reasonable chance of creating something – even if three of them, including the goal, have been from outside the box.

Traore’s crossing hasn’t been great: just 1 of 11 attempted finding its mark, although his set plays have been rather more effective, but crossing isn’t really what Guinea’s style is about. They know their limitations, sit men behind the ball and look to get it forward quickly to Mohamed Yattara, who attempts to hold it up for runners from midfield.

It’s at that that Traore has excelled. He’s attempted 59 dribbles in 18 appearances for Gladbach in the Bundesliga and Europa League this season, being successful with 36 of them. For Guinea his game is different and he has tried just two in the Cup of Nations, being
successful with both.

Although Traore is a player noted for his defensive effort and work rate at Gladbach, and although nobody could accuse him of stinting in his efforts here, he has made just one tackle so far in the tournament and no interceptions. He’s committed 1 foul and made 2 clearances, but this perhaps is a case when the statistics don’t tell the full story: Traore’s defensive contribution, taking his position in the 4-1-4-1, forcing opponents into errors, has been exemplary.

And perhaps on Thursday his efforts can help carry Guinea out of a tough group and into the quarter-final for the first time since 2008. The game against Mali will be a tough, physical affair; the dash of magic Traore can bring from the left could be crucial.

Do you think Guinea can make it through to the knockout stages? Let us know your thoughts in the comments