Guinea's Conde talks sports: AFCON 2023, Pogba's shirt, the Syli Nationale

Guinean President, Alpha Conde, who is also President of the African Union (A.U.) has been talking sports, specifically football.

In a recent interview with the BBC, Conde spoke about a series of issues relating to the game, he touched on the fact that he is the number one fan of the men’s national team, the Syli Nationale.

He hailed French international, Paul Pogba on two fronts – for his exploits in the game and also for sending him a shirt.

The 79-year-old leader also spoke about the country’s plans towards hosting the continent’s major football showpiece in 2023. The continent’s football governing body, CAF, announced in 2014 that after Cameroon 2019 and Ivory Coast 2021, Guinea will be next to host the African Cup of Nations.

Below is the content of the interview as shared by the BBC

“It would be unthinkable for me not to be the number one fan of my team. And I fight for them to succeed by creating the right environment , and by giving them the resources.

“Guinea will host the African Cup of Nations in 2023. We have to build stadiums and empower young Guineans. As you say: ‘mens sana in corpore sona,’ ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body.’

“I am very happy for him (Paul Pogba), actually, he sent me his shirt. I hope that he will set an example for young Guineans, so that they will aspire to be like him.”

Pogba’s parents are Guineans but he plays for the French national team. He also plies his club trade with Manchester United after an illustrious time in Italy with Serie A giants, Juventus. Incidentally, he transferred from United to Juventus making his 2016 signing a return to the English side.