Kaba shuns Guinea friendlies, focuses on Nantes FC survival

For a national team player, choosing club over country is often the source of conflict—not with the Guinean Football Federation (FEGUIFOOT) and their star Mohamed Kaba.

FEGUIFOOT has shown a rare sportsmanship by allowing their midfielder to excuse himself from the forthcoming friendlies scheduled for Rabat in Morocco later in March.

Tenue d’une visioconférence entre la CAF, la FGF et Guicopres-BTP relative à l’homologation du Stade du 28 Septembre#FGF | #CAF https://t.co/Owuzxj4fyr

— Fédération Guinéenne de Football (@fgfofficiel) March 5, 2026

🚨 𝗟𝗘 𝗙𝗖 𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘́𝗟𝗘̀𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗠𝗢𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗗 𝗞𝗔𝗕𝗔 ! 💚💛

L’opération porterait sur un prêt avec une option d’achat qui deviendrait obligatoire en cas de maintien du club nantais en Ligue 1.

(@NicoSchira) pic.twitter.com/7fmKzzSi9B

— Actu Ligue 1 (@ActuL1_) January 12, 2026

In a statement, the federation confirmed to have accepted the request of Kaba to excuse himself from Syli National friendlies against Togo and Benin. Instead, the 24-year-old is opting to help Nantes FC fight relegation in the French Ligue 1.

It is a rare kind of understanding considering that Guinea will play the strength building matches against Togo and Benin on March 27 and 31, 2026 during the FIFA window for international games.

How Guinea showed rare sportsmanship on Kaba

During such a window of international games, clubs are obliged to release players for national team duties. A statement from FEGUIFOOT shows the West African football body’s understanding on the need to balance the national team with the player’s interests.

“The Guinean Football Federation informs that the player Mohamed Kaba of FC Nantes will not be present at the Syli National gathering for the month of March 2026 in Morocco,” reads part of the statement.

“The midfielder, actively involved in the fight to keep his club in Ligue 1, expressed to the technical staff of the Syli National the need to stay at the club. He undertakes to be present in the next call up. This request aims to help his club, which is on the verge of relegation, to keep the lead in Ligue 1.”

The Yellow and Green have a real relegation fight in front of them in the remaining seven games in the French Ligue 1: they lie second from the bottom merely three points ahead of tail ender Metz.

Who has replaced Kaba in Guinea team?

Guinea coach Paulo Duarté has since replaced Kaba with Mamady Cissé, a midfielder who is on the books of the Brazilian club at Atlético Mineiro.

Syli National will regroup for camp training on Sunday in Rabat ahead of the warm-up matches in the absence of Kaba who is very worried with Nantes FC’s situation.

The Syli National failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, and are now gearing up for the 2027 AFCON edition.

Remaining French Ligue 1 fixtures for Nantes FC

22/03 : FC Nantes – Fontenay Vendée (J20)
28/03 : Angers SCO – FC Nantes (J21)
11/04 : Vertou USSA – FC Nantes (J22)
19/04 : FC Nantes – LBC Châteauroux (J23)
25/04 : Union Foot Touraine – FC Nantes (J24)
09/05 : FC Nantes – Le Poiré/Vie VF (J25)
16/05 : La Chataigneraie AS – FC Nantes (J26)