France-based trio get maiden Guinea invites for Algeria and Mozambique clashes

Guinea coach Kaba Diawara has rung the changes for next month's crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Algeria and Mozambique by handing call-ups to three uncapped players based in France.

Teenage midfielder Soumaila Sylla has been drafted in from Stade de Reims despite making just a handful of first-team appearances, while defenders Rayane Doucouré of Red Star and Nice's Aliou Badara Baldé are the other new faces.

The trio's selection underlines Diawara's desire to explore fresh options as the Syli Nationale bid to boost their chances of reaching the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Sylla, 20, has featured predominantly for Reims' reserve side in National 3 this term, albeit having trained regularly with the first team. He had previously represented France at under-18 level.

Doucouré, meanwhile, was instrumental in Red Star's National title triumph, the 23-year-old excelling in a three-man defence under former Senegal international Habib Beye which has earned him a move to Ligue 2 next season.

Baldé, 21, boasts the most senior pedigree having made seven Ligue 1 appearances for Nice this campaign, adding to experience gained at clubs in the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland.

The diminutive winger also has pedigree at youth level, representing Senegal at the 2019 Under-17 World Cup.

Their inclusion comes at the expense of the likes of Morgan Guilavogui, who has struggled for game time at Lens, but captain Naby Keita misses out primarily for mental reasons amid his lack of action at Werder Bremen.

The overhaul continues Guinea's policy of exploring its growing pool of dual nationals, with the likes of Serhou Guirassy, Ilaix Moriba and Aguibou Camara all retained despite Valencia's Thierry Correia being omitted.

It is a bold approach by Diawara, who realises maximum points are required from home and away matches against Algeria and Mozambique to keep the Syli's fading qualification hopes alive in Group G.

Guinea trail leaders Algeria by three points ahead of their crunch meeting in Algiers on 6 June, before hosting Mozambique four days later in Conakry.