Kaba Diawara: why the Féguifoot decided to turn the page

The news came as a sudden blow: Kaba Diawara is no longer head coach of Guinea's national football team. Following a series of disappointing performances at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2024 Olympic Games, and in the face of the heavy criticism that has accompanied his tenure, the Guinean Football Federation (Féguifoot) has decided to terminate his contract.

A mixed record at the 2023 AFCON

For many supporters, the 2023 AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire was another disappointment for the Syli National. Although the team managed to get out of a group made up of Senegal, Cameroon and The Gambia, they failed to get past the quarter-finals, losing to DR Congo.

Expectations were high, and many hoped Kaba Diawara could take Guinea beyond the quarter-finals. According to several analysts, it was an ambitious but realistic target. Yet the reality on the pitch was very different. The team showed tactical shortcomings, particularly in defence, where the weaknesses were glaring. The inability to create attacking chances also proved costly, leading to an exit that left a sense of unfinished business.

"We hoped to see a more competitive team and bolder tactical choices from Diawara", said a federation member on condition of anonymity. "Unfortunately, we saw a lack of adaptability when faced with challenges. "

Collapse at the 2024 Olympic Games

In the wake of that, the 2026 World Cup qualifiers confirmed these up-and-down results, with a superb win over Algeria followed by a defeat to Mozambique, raising fresh questions.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games then gave Kaba Diawara the chance to showcase his work, this time with the U23s. The assignment proved to be a poisoned chalice, ending in a major setback for Guinea. Despite a quality squad and plenty of ambition, the Guineans went out at the group stage without winning a single match.

Read also: Paris 2024 Olympics: Guinea and Mali knocked out

The campaign was seen as a major failure, reinforcing the view within the Guinean Football Federation that the team was not sufficiently prepared to take on the world's leading football nations. Criticism intensified, pointing to the players' physical and mental preparation. Kaba Diawara was singled out for failing to get the best out of his squad and for not being able to adapt to opponents' tactics, exposing his tactical limitations.

The reasons behind an inevitable dismissal

Amid the criticism and media pressure, Kaba Diawara's position looked increasingly shaky. Even so, the Guinean Football Federation's decision to part ways with the coach caught the Guinean sporting public off guard. "The Federation is aware of the expectations of the Guinean people ", a Féguifoot spokesperson said. " We need a new approach to rebuild and move forward. " It was as if to say that, in their eyes, Kaba Diawara was no longer the right man for the job and was a symbol of the governing body's lack of confidence in the coach for the short and medium term.

With Kaba Diawara gone, the Guinean Football Federation must now choose a new head coach. His successor will be tasked with reorganising the national team, trying to get the most out of the players and meeting the growing expectations of supporters. He will also face the heavy task of working on team cohesion and tactical discipline, areas that were lacking under Diawara. Otherwise, it will be hard to do better than his predecessor.