By: Julia Ordaz
The Morocco national soccer team was quickly escorted out of Guinea on September 5, 2021. This was due to the host country’s government facing the threat of being overthrown. Guinea’s capital, Conakry, had its streets shut down as shootouts took place all around the city. Col. Mamady Doumbouya, the head of Guinea’s special forces, led the coup, and in a broadcast Doumbouya announced that he did not consider the movement a coup d’etat but the “legitimate aspirations” of the people of Guinea.
Guinea’s president, Alpha Conde, has been taken, but is said to be in good condition mentally and physically. The backlash against the president comes after Conde announced his run for a third term, after promising to break the authoritarian rule over Guinea. The safety of the president has not been verified.
The group Doumbouya leads is calling themselves the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development, they hope to create a new constitution for freedom and democracy. This decision has been met with approval from many of the citizens in Guinea, but whether or not the group will stay true to their statements is questionable.
Before evacuations, the Moroccan national team was trapped in a hotel in Conakry. Footage from midfielder, Sofyan Amrabat, confirms that the team witnessed the action firsthand. Amrabat’s footage shows the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development’s military forces storming the streets.
The World Cup qualifiers must have results in by next spring, but as of now, the Morocco Guinea game has not been rescheduled.
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