Guinea will open their campaign at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations against Malawi at Koeukong Stadium in Bafoussam on Monday in what is expected to be a ding-dong battle.The West Africans are placed in Group B alongside Senegal and Zimbabwe and will be hoping to start off on the front foot against the unpredictable South African side.Syli National boss Kaba Diawara will heavily depend on the experience of Liverpool star Naby Keita to lead the team to glory.Ahead of the match, reports from the Guinea camp confirmed that defenders Antoine Conte and Florentin Pogba will be unavailable having withdrawn from the squad for the team due to injuries.#TeamMali got all their celebrations rehearsed. 😏The question is, how often will they be putting them to use at #AFCON2021?#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/z3t3PD8OKe— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 10, 2022 Gabadinho Mhango who plies his trade with South African giants Orlando Pirates is expected to be man to lead Malawi’s attack in Cameroon. He will be a key figure in Meke Mwase’s game plan for the Africa Cup of Nations.Guinea have been regular campaigners at the AFCON making 13 appearances with their best performance coming in 1976 edition when they were runners up to Morocco.The Flames of Malawi come into the tournament in with so little experience having made only 3 appearances. In those appearances they have failed to make it past the group stages.This will be the first encounter between Guinea and Malawi at the continental showpiece that enters day two on Monday.The Flames lighting up the #AFCON2021! 🔥See what I did there #TeamMalawi fans?#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/DHoJyaFKXp— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 10, 2022 Guinea are taking part in their 13th Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal are the only other team with more appearances (16, including this year) at the tournament without ever winning it – the closest they came was in 1976 when Guinea finished second to Morocco in what was then a final group stage.Guinea have reached the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations in five of their last six participations but have never progressed further than the quarter-finals in that time.🎆🎇 Lighting up the sky! 🎇🎆#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/7rOdmrzKmk— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 10, 2022 Malawi’s two previous appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations were in 1984 and 2010. They finished bottom of their group on both occasions, winning only one of their six matches (D1 L4).Malawi scored only four goals in six games during qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, the joint- lowest tally of the 24 teams at this year’s tournament alongside the Comoros.Malawi striker Richard Mbulu was the sole scorer in his nation’s three wins in 2021 (1-0 v South Sudan & Uganda in March, 1-0 v Mozambique in September).Additional reporting by CAF Online
