Guinea-Morocco World Cup qualifier postponed after Conakry coup d’etat

The biggest football game in the world, the 2018 FIFA World Cup, was set for Saturday afternoon in Conakry, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, after it was decided that the match would be played despite the political conflict engulfing the country. However, this weekend’s clash was cancelled after the country’s military, which took over the government after a coup d’etat on Thursday, threatened to not release its players for the game, now only three days away.

Guinean President Alpha Conde declared a state of emergency in the capital city of Conakry in response to an attempted coup in the country.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the postponement of next month’s African Cup of Nations qualifier between Guinea and Morocco after a coup d’état in the West African country of Conakry. Since the West African country is known as the “Arch of Africa”, this meant that the “Arch of Africa” qualifier was postponed from 18/11/16 to 23/11/16. This is not the first time a World Cup qualifier has been postponed due to a coup d’état; the West African country of Senegal was due to host its first-ever World Cup qualifier in 2016, but the match was cancelled due to a coup d’état in the country.

3:02 p.m. Eastern

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After sustained gunfire was reported, members of the Guinea Armed Forces drove into the central neighborhood of Kaloum in Conakry. Getty Images/CELLOU BINANI/AFP/CELLOU BINANI/AFP/CELLOU BINANI/AFP/CELLOU B

The Moroccan national team has been evacuated from Conakry, Guinea’s capital, and their World Cup qualifier against Guinea has been postponed due to the West African country’s coup d’etat.

After the CAF issued a statement announcing the game’s cancellation, the Morocco camp boarded an aircraft.

Morocco goalkeeper Anas Zniti, who is with the team in Conakry, told ESPN that the players are doing well, despite the city’s worsening security situation, which midfielder Sofyan Amrabat documented on his Instagram account with video of military troops on the streets.

For the time being, the Moroccan team has been instructed to stay inside their home and away from windows and entrances.

The Confederation of African Football stated in a statement that “the present political and security situation in Guinea is extremely unpredictable and is being carefully watched by FIFA and CAF.”

“FIFA and CAF have agreed to postpone the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying match between Guinea and Morocco, which was due to take place in Conakry, Guinea, on Monday, September 6th, in order to guarantee the safety and security of all players and match officials. Information about rescheduling will be provided at a later time.”

Members of the Guinean Police National drive through Conakry’s downtown Kaloum neighborhood. Getty Images/CELLOU BINANI/AFP/CELLOU BINANI/AFP/CELLOU BINANI/AFP/CELLOU B

According to the, Morocco trained in Guinea on Saturday, just before the alleged coup d’etat started, with hours of shooting heard in Conakry, near the presidential palace.

“We’re at the hotel, gunfire can be heard close all day,” Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic told French publication L’Equipe before the delay was announced. We’re still waiting for clearance to depart for the airport, so we’re stuck for the time being.

“We have an aircraft waiting for us, but we are not permitted to board. And it takes 45 minutes to an hour to go to the airport. When you hear gunfire outside, your safety isn’t guaranteed “”You can rest assured.”

He said, ” “I was informed there was a chance the game might be played in Morocco, but I have no idea. For the time being, we’re trapped there; we’ll see how things go. We’ll see what happens. I’m hoping we get in Morocco before the end of the day.”

While Guinea’s defense minister has said that the coup attempt was unsuccessful, President Alpha Conde’s fate remains unknown. The pictures of bodies on the streets of the Guinean capital have been confirmed by ESPN.

The president has been arrested, according to a statement given to ESPN by the “National Front for the Defense of the Constitution,” a coalition of parties opposing the current administration.

The military is still present in the streets and has seized control of the country’s land and air borders, so residents in the Kaloum area have been advised to stay indoors.

This led Air Senegal, which had planned to fly several of Guinea’s European players to Conakry on Sunday, to cancel those flights. The ruling may cast doubt on Liverpool’s Naby Keita’s ability to return to Europe, among others.

Morocco arrived in the nation aboard a rented plane.

The four Cameroonian match officials who were supposed to supervise Monday’s play are still in the nation, and African football’s governing body has yet to clarify how they will leave.

Some of the high-profile players presently in Morocco’s camp include PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Benfica’s Adel Taarabt, Wolves’ Romain Saiss, and Sevilla’s Yassine Bounou and Youssef En-Nesyri.

This story includes information from Reuters.

The West African nation of Guinea-Bissau was scheduled to take on Morocco in a World Cup qualifying match on Saturday. But the match has been postponed until further notice after a government coup d’etat.. Read more about guinea vs morocco results and let us know what you think.

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