Troubled Guinea elects new FA

Fifa has given up to Thursday for Guinea to act

Guinean businessman Mamadou Sylla has been elected chairman of the troubled Guinean Football Association at the end of a dramatic meeting.

Mr Sylla was elected at 2 am, Wednesday morning, by representatives from the country's eight regional leagues, in a session chaired by the president of Guinea's Olympic Committee.

I have just arrived, ... I want to meet with all the decision-makers involved in football.

  Mamadou Sylla

He replaces Salifou Camara, who was sacked with the rest of the FA two weeks ago by the Sports ministry, because of the "poor results" of the national team.

The Guinean government had been given until Thursday, 15th February, by Fifa, to reverse its decision or face a ban that would lead to their removal from the World Cup qualifiers.

It is not clear though whether the election of the new football executive will now stop Fifa carrying out its threat to ban the country.

Guinean fans could be denied the joys of international football

It is also not clear if, what appears to be the FAs own housecleaning, will receive the approval of the Sports minister Cheikh Abdelkader Sangare.

Local reporters say that the newly-elected FA boss Mamadou Sylla, who is also head of Guinea's employers' federation, was not the government's favourite candidate.

New blood

In his first comments, Mamadou Sylla told Guinea national radio: "I have just arrived, so before taking any decision, I want to meet with all the decision-makers involved in football."

  Qualifying Group E

Guinea P3 Pts 7

S. Africa P2 Pts 6

Malawi P2 Pts 2

B. Faso P3 Pts 1

Zimbabwe P2 Pts 0

At the end of Tuesday night's dramatic meeting, the outgoing chairman was reported to have been very agitated.

He is said to have asked the members of his outgoing team to leave the premises and made no declaration.

The new FA executive, which has retained some members of the ousted team, now includes some famous players from the 1970s.

Notable among the new faces is the first vice-chairman Aboubacar Drino Bangoura and Ibrahima Sory Keita, also known as "Petit Sory"

Both men played in the legendary Hafia Conakry side which qualified for four consecutive African champions Cup finals, winning the trophy in 1975 and 1977.

Sory Keita is currently in charge of amateur football in Guinea..