Borussia Dortmund star Serhou Guirassy has had a highly productive international window with Guinea. He created the goal for Seydouba Cisse in the 2-1 loss to South Africa, assumed the National Elephants captaincy for the first time against Kenya, and then marked the occasion by scoring the winning goal.
On a day when the West African minnows celebrated the return of international football after over four years, it's their main marksman Guirassy who guides them to a victory in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Could it get more poetic than that?
From set-piece frustration to shambolic match-winner
Combining intelligent runs with impeccable positioning in and around the final third, Guirassy was a persistent threat for Kenya. But some of his earliest attempts at goal came from set-pieces.
As Yadaly Diaby was brought down by Ben Omondi near the edge of the box in the seventh minute, the home side were awarded a free-kick which Guirassy stepped up to take but smashed his effort right into the Kenyan wall.
Just about five minutes later, Guinea won another free-kick. This time, the angle and distance, both were better. Guirassy took it once more and sent it through the Kenyan wall but it came off the far post.
Two good set-piece opportunities inside the opening 15 minutes and both came to naught. But Guirassy would soon come back to haunt the Harambee Stars and make it 1-0 for Guinea.
He held off his man inside the box to square it off for an onrushing Sekou Sylla, who got crowded out by Kenyan players and went down as the ball broke loose. Guirassy raced on and smashed it under Kenyan goalkeeper Bryne Odhiambo for his 12th international goal.
The striker's hold-up play, while under pressure from a Kenyan defender, was simply impeccable. But his attacking instincts to jump back into action as Sylla went down was equally impressive, as Guirassy anticipated a chance while keeping his composure to dispatch it.
The 31-year-old BVB star came in with another fabulous chance of scoring in the 48th minute when Diaby pranced forward on the break before cutting it across inside the box for him. Guirassy, who once again was in acres of space to shoot, tried a shot but it came off Kenyan centre-back Mike Kibwage before going out for a corner.
Guinea have a shot in the arm
Serhou Guirassy underlined his position as one of the best penalty-box strikers in the world today. He registered a game-high of four shots in the match and scored the winning goal for his side which brought them all three points from the fixture, just the comeback they were hoping for after the South Africa defeat last weekend.
The National Elephants remain three points off the Bafana Bafana in Group D, but have their momentum restored. Their next two qualifiers are against Eritrea, which Guinea are expected to win. Doing do would also keep the pressure on South Africa ahead of their rematch in March 2027.
Add us as a preferred source on Google