Somalia 0-3 Guinea Player Ratings: Abdoulaye Toure Rated 8.5/10 as Dominant Display Sees Guinea Cruise to 3-0 Victory

Guinea demonstrated their absolute superiority in a commanding performance against Somalia in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers match held at the Mandela National Staadium. The match ended in a decisive 3-0 victory for the visitors, a scoreline that frankly, could have been wider. The game was over as a contest long before the final whistle blew at the Mandela Stadium. Guinea simply had too much quality, which they showed since the very first minute of the match. They controlled the tempo and possession from the first minute to the last, making Somalia look like spectators who came to watch the Guinea National Football Team train. We noticed a clear gulf in class between the two African nations. UCL 2024/25 season joint highest goal scorer Serhou Guirassy broke the deadlock in the first half with a tidy finish. Somalia's slim hopes were then completely extinguished by a deeply unfortunate own goal early in the second half by Othman Omar. The substitute Ousmane Camara added a third late on, just to rub salt in the wounds of players of the Hosts. It was a truly humbling experience for the home side, Somalia, who were chasing shadows for most of the game.

Here are the Guinea Vs Somalia Player Ratings

Guinea Player Ratings vs Somalia

Here are Guinea Player Ratings vs Somalia

Goalkeeper

Moussa Camara - 6.5: He had one of the quietest nights of his career. Somalia barely threatened his goal, so he was more of a spectator for large spells. What stood out to us was his concentration when called upon, though those moments were few and far between. He did what he had to do with minimal fuss. A clean sheet is always a bonus, but he was rarely tested.

Defenders

Antoine Conte - 7.0: A very solid and composed performance from the right-back. He was defensively sound, giving the Somali attackers no joy down his flank. We noticed he was keen to get forward and support the attack whenever possible. His distribution from the back was tidy and efficient. An untroubled and professional display.

Issiaga Sylla - 7.0: The captain led by example with a typically robust performance. He was strong in the tackle and read the game brilliantly from his left-back position. From our perspective, he provided a great outlet on the overlap. He was substituted late on, having already done more than enough to ensure the victory. A true captain's performance.

Mouctar Diakhaby - 6.5: A bit of a mixed bag for Diakhaby, if we're being honest. For the most part, he was dominant in the air and comfortable against Somalia’s limited attack. However, he picked up a needless yellow card for a clumsy challenge late in the game. It was a slight blemish on an otherwise comfortable evening for the central defender.

Dembo Sylla - 7.0: Partnered Diakhaby well at the heart of the defence. He was calm and collected on the ball, often starting attacks from the back. We were impressed by his positional sense, as he never seemed to be caught out. He made a couple of important interceptions but was largely untroubled. A very straightforward outing.

Midfielders

Morlaye Sylla - 7.0: A bundle of energy in the midfield. He was here, there, and everywhere, constantly looking to win the ball back and drive his team forward. His work rate was exceptional. He linked up play nicely between the defence and attack before being substituted. A very lively and effective display.

Seydouba Cissé - 6.5: A tidy, if unspectacular, performance from Cissé in the middle of the park. He kept things simple, recycling possession effectively and protecting his back four. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward, but that wasn't his primary role. A disciplined performance before he was taken off.

Mory Konaté - 7.5: From our perspective, he was one of the key players in dictating the tempo of the game. He sat in a deeper role and completely controlled the flow. His passing range was excellent, and he rarely gave the ball away. Konaté provided the platform for the more creative players to flourish. A very intelligent performance.

Abdoulaye Touré - 8.5: Our man of the match. What a performance. He was the creative spark for Guinea, constantly probing and looking for openings. He capped his display with a perfectly weighted assist for the opening goal. His vision and technical ability were a class above everyone else on the pitch. A complete midfield masterclass and the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Forwards

Serhou Guirassy - 7.5: He did exactly what he was on the pitch to do: score goals. His finish for the opener was calm and composed, showing his killer instinct. He was a constant threat with his movement and physical presence. The Somalia defenders simply couldn't handle him. He was taken off for a well-deserved rest late on.

Aliou Baldé - 6.0: A frustrating evening for the attacker. While he showed flashes of his pace and skill, his final product was often lacking. He got into some good positions but couldn't make the most of them. What stood out to us was his effort, but it just wasn't his night before he was substituted.

Substitutes

Ousmane Camara - 7.5: What an impact. Came off the bench and immediately looked dangerous. He capped his cameo with a well-taken goal in stoppage time, showing great composure inside the box. He couldn't have done much more in the time he was given.

Salifou Soumah - 6.5: Came on for Balde and provided fresh legs and energy on the wing. Looked lively and direct.

Sékou Sylla - 6.5: Replaced the captain Issiaga Sylla and saw the game out with professionalism. Had little to do defensively.

Aboubacar Bangoura - 6.0: Replaced the goalscorer Guirassy but didn't have a major impact on the game with the result already secured.

Manager

S. Camara - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection. He set his team up to dominate from the start, and they executed his instructions flawlessly. His substitutions were spot on, with Ousmane Camara coming on to score. He will be delighted with the performance and the comfortable 3-0 win.

Somalia Player Ratings vs Guinea

Here are Somalia Player Ratings vs Guinea

Goalkeeper

Abdirahman Mohamud - 5.5: A very tough night for the keeper. He conceded three goals but, in truth, he could do little about any of them. He was left completely exposed by his defence time and time again. He made a couple of decent saves to keep the scoreline from becoming even more embarrassing. We felt a bit sorry for him.

Defenders

Faysal Abu Bakr - 4.5: A disastrous and forgettable match for the defender. He struggled all game and his nightmare was complete when he turned the ball into his own net. That own goal was a moment of pure panic and it killed any faint hope Somalia had. His confidence was visibly shattered after that. A truly difficult day at the office.

Mohamud Ali - 5.0: He had a torrid time trying to contain Guinea's fluid attack. The pace and movement were just too much for him to handle. He was part of a defensive unit that was all at sea. Substituted after 68 minutes, and he looked relieved to be coming off.

Ali Omar - 5.0: Much like the rest of the defence, he was overwhelmed. He was dragged out of position constantly and struggled to make any meaningful impact on the game. He battled hard, but the quality gap was just immense. A long and difficult 90 minutes for him.

Abdulle Abdullahi Abdulle - 5.0: Found himself chasing shadows for most of the match. He was part of a backline that lacked organization and cohesion. Guinea's attackers ran rings around him. A performance that highlighted the defensive frailties of the team.

Unknown Player - 5.0: A player whose name was not on the official teamsheet, but who was part of a defence that conceded three times. It was a baptism of fire, and he was unable to stem the tide of Guinea attacks.

Midfielders

Mohamed Omar - 5.5: The captain tried to lead by example, but it was an impossible task. He worked hard and tried to get his team on the front foot, but he was fighting a losing battle. He spent most of the game chasing the ball as Guinea's midfield dominated. A thankless task for the skipper.

Handwalla Bwana - 5.5: One of the few Somali players who showed some glimpses of attacking intent. He tried to run at the Guinea defence when he got the ball, but he was often isolated. His efforts were admirable, but he couldn't make a telling impact before his substitution.

Ali Musse - 5.0: A really quiet game from the midfielder. He was largely anonymous and struggled to get involved in the play. He was bypassed by Guinea's slick passing and movement. Offered very little both defensively and offensively.

Bilal Habib - 5.0: Similar to his midfield partners, he was completely overrun. He couldn't get a foothold in the game at all. He worked hard off the ball, but he was simply outclassed by the opposition. A frustrating evening for him.

Yasir Abdiqadir Sa'Ad - 5.5: He put in a shift but was ultimately ineffective. He showed some nice touches but was unable to influence the game in any meaningful way. It was a learning experience for him against top-quality opposition.

Substitutes

Aweys Adan - 6.0: Came on when the game was already lost but tried to add some stability to the defence.

Ayub Abdulkadir - 6.0: Injected a little bit of energy but couldn't change the course of the match.

Farhan Ahmed - N/A: Brought on late in the game with little time to make an impact.

Manager

R. Loustik - 5.0: From our perspective, his team was set up to be defensive, but they couldn't execute the plan. They were tactically outclassed from start to finish. He has a massive job on his hands to improve this team. The gulf in quality was evident, and his side had no answer to Guinea's superiority.

Sportdunia's Player of the Match is Abdoulaye Touré