Unpaid bonuses, players out on the street: Syli basket on the verge of implosion

Victorious over Rwanda (89-63), Guinea ended up losing to Nigeria (80-79) and Tunisia (61-50). Losses with little sporting consequence, since the Syli basket qualified for the second round with a record of four wins and two losses during the first two FIBA windows.

Expelled from the hotel

These defeats, however, are symptomatic of the difficulties recently faced by the national team. From Dakar (Senegal) to Luanda (Angola), the preparation was anything but smooth. Abdoulaye Sy, captain of Syli basket, denounces the treatment inflicted on Guinean players during this window.

“I think there was a lack of preparation on our part. We gathered late in Senegal. And in the end there were these episodes that disturbed us. In Luanda, they even made us share beds two by two. Imagine players like Alpha Diallo, Sekou Doumbouya who have played in the NBA experiencing this kind of situation,” he denounced. And he continued: “It’s actually a shame. The expenses had to be settled thanks to the involvement of the federation president, the ambassador, and Guinean expatriates so that we could leave the place. It’s an extremely serious situation that does not make you want to come back.”

The coach slams the door

Between unpaid hotel bills, player expulsions, and unpaid bonuses, the cocktail proved explosive. It was in this context that Serbian coach Nedeljko “Neno” Ašćerić caused a shock. After the defeat against Tunisia (61-50), the Serbian coach announced his immediate resignation at a press conference.

“I do not want to continue with this situation. I wanted to stop before going to Dakar to prepare against Senegal. But I decided not to leave my team alone. I love this team. I didn't want to betray it. I spoke several times with the leaders. I have not been paid for a year. But the money was not the most important thing. The problem is respect. This is something I cannot accept.”

The coach’s resignation is symptomatic of a deep institutional malaise that has lingered for some time. Abdoulaye Sy, captain of the Guinean team, looks back on this episode. “To be honest, it surprised us a little. He had spoken to us with the other vice-captains. Since Dakar, he did not want to come to Luanda. We convinced him to come with us. But he came with us, he agreed to make this effort.”

On the side of the Guinean Basketball Federation, disappointment is palpable. Amara Babila Keita, president of the body, regrets the departure of the Serbian coach. “This coach, actually, he made a lot of sacrifices for us. He accepted a lot of things. A coach who comes, during the windows, receives nothing, and leaves. He comes during the windows, receives nothing, and leaves. He truly loves the team. That has to be said. But they are professionals. Top level doesn’t lie, there are no jokes. He works, you pay him, he leaves,” he regretted.

Unpaid bonuses, Ministry of Sports blamed

Arriving as head of the Guinean Basketball Federation in October 2024, Amara Babila Keita had made reconciliation among Guinean basketball stakeholders his priority. The new management now finds itself facing a major challenge that, this time, directly threatens the goal of qualifying for the 2027 Qatar Basketball World Cup. A situation that draws the president’s attention, who casts an accusatory finger at the Ministry of Sports.

“Going back to the situation in Luanda, it was really regrettable. We finished the first match, won. We went to the hotel, and were already being threatened. We followed up with the ministry, again and again, with no response. We submit the program plan at the end of every year. At the end of 2025, we submitted the program plan to the Ministry of Sports. So, they had the full program of activities and competitions, both international and national. And three months before the competition, we wrote a letter to inform them of our needs and everything that comes with it. The regrouping, and so on, in detail: after three months, nothing is handled. A few days before the competition, we start running everywhere. And it’s regrettable, this administrative sluggishness, it’s regrettable. It’s unacceptable that we have high caliber players in our team and we can’t honor certain commitments, not even the bonuses. But the minimum is accommodation.”

After setting foot on Guinean soil, the Guinean basketball players faced another headache. There was no accommodation planned for the delegation, knowing that most do not have family in the country. A situation symptomatic of the problems plaguing Guinean sport. Apart from football, which attracts all the authorities’ attention, other disciplines, especially basketball, find themselves in the shadow of the king of sports.

To hope to fulfill its World Cup dream, Guinea will face Cape Verde, South Sudan, and Cameroon in the second round in home-and-away matches in an attempt to clinch a historic qualification for the FIBA World Cup Qatar 2027.

A difficult mission, but not impossible. However, this is only possible if organizational shortcomings and delays in the payment of bonuses do not, once again, jeopardize the goal. In the meantime, a successor to Nedeljko Ašćerić must be found before the next break scheduled for August 2026.