Morlaye Sylla: How Jersey Swap With Vinicius Jr Cost Midfielder Place in Guinea Squad for AFCON 2023

• Morlaye Sylla has been dropped from Guinea's squad for AFCON 2023
• The FC Arouca midfielder failed to make the final squad over a jersey controversy
• Sylla has been in fine form in the Portuguese league for FC Arouca this season

Portugal-based Guinea midfielder, Morlaye Sylla has failed to make the Syli National squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast over a jersey controversy.

The FC Arouca player exchanged jerseys with Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr during a friendly between Guinea and Brazil in June. A game the African nation lost 4-1.

However, after the match, Sylla could not find the shirt he swapped with the Brazilian, resulting in him accusing his teammates and the technical team of theft.

The midfielder went on to search the luggages of his teammates and the coach for the missing jersey.

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According to Mimi Mefo Info, the disruptive behaviour of the player led to coach Kaba Diawara dropping him for the tournament next month.

"I'm not ready for an interview, but what's certain is that not everything that happens on Facebook is true. I can never retire in the (national) team especially since I am still young. That’s all I can tell you,” Morlaye Sylla told Africa Guinee.

Sylla is one of Guinea's best players in Europe this season, making 13 appearances, scoring one goal and providing four assists in the Portuguese league.

Meanwhile, coach Diawara named a 25-man squad including former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita for the competition in January.

“In Cameroon, we found ourselves facing ego problems, playing time problems, players who felt less useful, less important. Now in my choice, with this experience, well thought out, there was the staff to choose the players who go together, the players who can understand each other, the players who, even if they don't play at least, who know sometimes behave like a big brother, like a confidant. It’s true that out of 25 players, we know very well that not everyone will play, but it’s the configuration that was chosen,” said Diawara while defending his selection.

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Guinea have been drawn in Group C alongside champions Senegal, Cameroon and Gambia.

Yaya Toure names AFCON 2023 favourites

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ivory Coast and Manchester City legend, Yaya Toure has picked his favourite teams to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 2015 AFCON winner surprisingly ignored his own country while listing the nations he believes can win the tournament in Ivory Coast.

Toure cited qualification form as the reason for his selection, with Senegal and Guinea Bissau part of the best.