In the shadow of football, Guinean mini-soccer is building its continental success
Semi-finalist of the AFCON for its first participation, Guinea hosted the general assembly of the Confederation of African mini-football and is preparing to organize the next edition of the continental tournament. A trajectory that places the country among the best powers of African mini-football.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
Listen to this story
Audio version in preparation · read aloud by your browser meanwhile
In Guinea, where eleven-a-side football reigns supreme, another form of play unleashes passions: mini-soccer. This dynamic and accessible discipline is attracting more and more young people in Conakry. For the first time, the national mini-soccer team took part in the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), in July 2025 in Libya. During this competition, Guinea reached the semi-finals finishing fourth in the tournament.
A remarkable performance for a historic first. "It was a sense of joy and pride. This discipline will be a flagship for Guinea. I thought that with mini-football Guinea can go far, and through this competition we proved it. So that confirmed my vision, this discipline will be a flagship for Guinea," said Mamadou Goudoussy Diallo, president of the Guinean Federation of Mini-football.
The AFCON as a springboard to the top
With a semi-final for their first participation in the Africa Cup, Guinea have big ambitions. On 28 February 2026, at the general assembly of the forum held in Conakry, Guinea was designated as the host of CAN 2027, which will bring together 24 nations for the first time. A consecration fruit of both a diplomatic and sporting approach, explains the president of the Guinean Federation of mini-football.
«Today, our vision for the next 10 years is that Guinea will be a mini-football capital, which is very important. Because today, Guinea will host all the major decision-making meetings concerning this discipline. And it’s also a way of branding Guinea. Showing the rest of the world that Guinea is there, Conakry is there. So these are the things that pushed me to apply and put on the sports diplomacy that is needed''
explains Mamadou Goudoussy Diallo.
He continues:
"Today, I tell myself that in the field of sports, in the field of mini-football, it is my role, it is my duty to sell the image of this country. And that is why, with God’s help, Guinea will be the capital of African mini-football for the next 10 years. Everything is moving quickly for Guinea. Today, through this AFCON, there is tourism, there is culture, and then there is sport. So it will allow Guinean youth to experience a major continental event, especially since there will be 24 countries.”
The infrastructure, the headquarters of the body for the next decade...
If Guinea finds itself propelled to the forefront of the continental scene, it still faces many challenges in achieving its ambitions. Among his challenges, the financial one in particular admits the president of the Guinean Mini Football Federation.
«Honestly, with regard to the preparations, things are moving in small steps. Why small steps? Because, you know, it’s not just the federation. You have to work with the authorities and especially with my Ministry of Sport. But it’s just a small administrative burden. But starting next week, we’re going to step on the gas so that we can meet the deadline."
Despite setbacks in the preparations, the vice-president of the African Minifootball Confederation aims to build high-level infrastructure while meeting deadlines. «We are going to build a 3,000-seat stadium in the outskirts of Cosa (a suburb of Conakry). There will be another stadium that is mobile, within the walls of Nongo Stadium and which will have a capacity of 5000 spectators. And now, next to it, there will be mini-football fields that will be developed and used as a training ground," says Mamadou Goudoussy Diallo.
Guinea seems determined to make mini-football a lever for sports development, but also an international image vector. For the president of the federation, hosting the headquarters of the African body is one of the steps towards the long-awaited summits. «It’s also a way to do the branding of Guinea. Today, Guinea will host all the major decision-making meetings regarding this discipline. In terms of world ranking, we are 25th. In Africa, we are 5th. And my goal is to organize the CAN and also apply for the World Cup. Because as soon as we have the infrastructure with the AFCON heritage, we can organize the World Cup. And in 5 years, I see Guinea, the leading country of mini-football", aspires Mamadou Goudoussy Diallo.
Twenty-fifth worldwide and fifth continentally in the latest ranking of the world federation of mini soccer, Guinea continues to rise. In the shadow of classic football that is struggling to take off, mini-foot Guinean is now established as a safe bet of the discipline on the continent. Feats that promise a bright future.