Guinea 0-0 Algeria Player Ratings: Mouctar Diakhaby Rated 7.5/10 as A Tense Stalemate Ends in a 0-0 Draw

An interesting CAF World Cup Qualifiers match was held at the Mohamed V Stadium, concluding in a tactical, goalless draw between the Guinea national football team and Algeria. This was a kind of classic chess match where both sides were perfectly organized, leading to a game of few clear-cut opportunities. It was a frustrating night for the attackers on both teams as they failed to break the deadlock.

Guinea set up a formidable defensive block, which looked difficult to break. They successfully thwarted the creative talents of the Algerian side. Even a player of Riyad Mahrez, who used to be one of the best wingers in Premier League, found himself completely nullified, a rare sight indeed. His eventual substitution in the latter minutes completely tells the story of the match in a nutshell.

What stood out to us was the sheer discipline on display. The midfield was a battleground, congested and combative, but it lacked the spark of ingenuity needed to break the lines. Both managers will likely take positives from the defensive solidity, but for the neutral observer, it was a match crying out for a moment of individual brilliance that never arrived. The 0-0 scoreline felt like an inevitable conclusion to a cautious and tense affair.

Here are the Complete Guinea Vs Algeria Player Ratings

Guinea Player Ratings vs Algeria

Here are Guinea Player Ratings vs Algeria

Goalkeeper

Moussa Camara - 7.0: A very solid performance from the Guinea shot-stopper. He wasn’t peppered with shots but showed great concentration throughout the ninety minutes. We noticed his command of the area on set pieces was particularly strong. Ultimately, a clean sheet is the best reward for a keeper, and he earned it.

Defenders

Antoine Conte - 6.5: A disciplined and effective display at the back. Conte stuck to his task diligently, offering very little space for Algeria's attackers to exploit down his flank. He was positionally sound and never looked flustered. A really steady game.

Issiaga Sylla - 7.0: The captain led by example with a commanding performance. He organized the backline with authority and made several crucial interventions to snuff out danger. His experience was evident as he read the game beautifully. He was a calming presence for his team.

Mouctar Diakhaby - 7.5: From our perspective, Diakhaby was the standout performer. He was an absolute colossus at the heart of the defense, winning everything in the air. He completely pocketed Mohamed Amoura, which is no easy feat. A dominant display that was key to Guinea’s clean sheet. Our highest-rated player on the pitch.

Midfielders

Morlaye Sylla - 6.0: He ran his socks off in the middle of the park, but his creative influence was minimal. While his energy was commendable, his final pass often went astray. It was an industrious but ultimately frustrating evening before his substitution.

Seydouba Cissé - 6.5: A typically busy performance from Cissé. He was effective in breaking up Algerian attacks and recycling possession. He did the dirty work well but struggled, like his teammates, to provide the key to unlock the opposition's defence.

Dembo Sylla - 6.0: Covered a lot of ground but seemed to be on the periphery of the game's key moments. A functional performance without much to shout about. He fulfilled his defensive duties adequately but offered little going forward.

Mory Konaté - 6.5: Provided an excellent protective screen for the back four. His tackling was clean and his positioning was intelligent, often being in the right place to intercept passes. A very tidy and effective, if unspectacular, performance.

Abdoulaye Touré - 6.5: Another engine in the Guinea midfield. We were impressed by his work rate and his ability to disrupt Algeria's rhythm. He was a constant nuisance and played a key role in the midfield battle.

Forwards

Serhou Guirassy - 5.5: A really tough and isolated night for the striker. He was starved of any meaningful service and had to feed on scraps. You could see his frustration; he battled hard against the Algerian centre-backs but was given no clear sights of goal.

Aliou Baldé - 5.5: Showed some bright sparks with his pace but was largely ineffective. The Algerian defence managed him well, doubling up on him at times. It was no surprise to see him substituted in the second half.

Substitutes

Salifou Soumah - N/A: Came on with too little time to make a real impact on the match.

Ousmane Camara - N/A: Replaced Morlaye Sylla but couldn't change the dynamic of the midfield battle.

Mohamed Soumah - N/A: Introduced late and managed to pick up a yellow card.

Sékou Sylla - N/A: A very late substitute with no time to influence proceedings.

Manager

P. Rebelo Duarte - 7.0: His game plan worked to perfection from a defensive standpoint. He set his team up to be compact and difficult to beat, and they executed it flawlessly. While the attack lacked potency, securing a point against a strong Algerian side is a significant achievement.

Algeria Player Ratings vs Guinea

Here are Algeria Player Ratings vs Guinea

Goalkeeper

Alexis Guendouz - 6.5: A quiet evening for the Algerian goalkeeper, which is a credit to his defence. He handled everything that came his way with confidence and his distribution was tidy. An easy clean sheet in the end.

Defenders

Aïssa Mandi - 7.0: A composed and authoritative display from the veteran defender. He read the game expertly and kept Guirassy on a tight leash all game. His leadership at the back was crucial for Algeria's defensive solidity.

Mohamed Amine Tougai - 6.0: He was physically strong and defended aggressively, but his performance was marred by a clumsy challenge that earned him a yellow card. A solid outing for the most part, but the lack of discipline was a negative mark.

Jaouen Hadjam - 6.5: Did his defensive duties well, keeping Aliou Baldé quiet. He tried to support the attack down the left, but his final ball lacked the quality to create a real chance. A solid, if unspectacular, performance.

Youcef Atal - 6.5: An energetic presence on the right flank. He was always an available outlet and bombed forward whenever possible. However, like many others on the pitch, his final product just wasn't there on the night.

Midfielders

Ramiz Zerrouki - 7.0: Looked a cut above in a congested midfield. He controlled the tempo for Algeria, dictating play from a deep position. His passing range was impressive, and he was one of the few players who tried to inject some forward momentum.

Riyad Mahrez - 5.0: A huge disappointment. From our perspective, the captain was almost anonymous. He was tightly marked and struggled to find any space to work his magic. It was a shock, but not entirely undeserved, to see him substituted.

Hicham Boudaoui - 6.0: Worked tirelessly in the engine room but couldn't stamp his authority on the game. He made plenty of runs and tackles but lacked the creative spark to make a difference in the final third.

Farès Chaïbi - 6.5: One of Algeria's more dangerous players. He looked lively and tried to make things happen, drifting into pockets of space. But he was consistently met by a wall of Guinea defenders who gave him no room to breathe.

Forwards

Saïd Benrahma - 5.5: A frustrating outing for the winger. He showed some neat touches and tricks but was ultimately ineffective against a resolute Guinea defence. He couldn't find a way past his man and was taken off.

Mohamed Amoura - 5.5: He was full of energy and made his trademark runs, but he was completely shackled by the brilliant Mouctar Diakhaby. He barely had a sniff of goal all evening, a testament to Guinea's excellent defending.

Substitutes

Amine Gouiri - N/A: Replaced Benrahma but failed to find a breakthrough.

Anis Hadj Moussa - N/A: Brought on for the ineffective Mahrez but couldn't provide the spark.

Nabil Bentaleb - N/A: A late change to see out the draw.

Manager

V. Petković - 6.5: His team was defensively sound, which is a positive. However, they appeared void of attacking ideas and struggled to break down a well-drilled Guinea side. The decision to withdraw Mahrez was bold, but his replacements failed to make an impact.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Mouctar Diakhaby