Liverpool's Naby Keita is stranded in his homeland of Guinea following a military coup. PA
Liverpool's Naby Keita is stranded in his homeland of Guinea following a military coup. PA
Liverpool's Naby Keita is stranded in his homeland of Guinea following a military coup. PA
Liverpool's Naby Keita is stranded in his homeland of Guinea following a military coup. PA

Liverpool say Naby Keita 'safe and well' after coup in Guinea leaves him stranded


  • English
  • Arabic

Liverpool said midfielder Naby Keita was "safe and well" after he and his Guinea teammates were blocked in their home country by an apparent military coup.

Keita, 26, was on international duty for a 2022 World Cup qualifier in his homeland when a group of soldiers detained 83-year-old president Alpha Conde.

After hours of gunfire and unrest, Guinea's World Cup qualifier against Morocco on Monday was postponed.

A Liverpool spokesman said the club was in "constant contact" with Keita and had "regular communication" with the management of his national team.

"We are satisfied that he is safe and well cared for," the spokesman told Britain's PA news agency.

Liverpool said it was talking with “relevant authorities,” which included Guinea team officials, regarding Keita and was working to get him "back to Liverpool in a timely and secure manner.”

Fifa has not announced a new date or venue for the Guinea-Morocco qualifier.

Guinea defender Issiaga Sylla, who plays for Toulouse, told French newspaper L'Equipe that the players learned something was happening as they gathered for breakfast at the hotel on Sunday morning.

“The coach then came to see us to tell us that there was a coup," Sylla told L'Equipe. "Soldiers were called in to secure our hotel.”

The team hotel was around 10 minutes from the airport "but we can’t move,” Sylla said.

  • Soldiers in Guinea say President Alpha Conde has been detained by soldiers in the capital Conakry. EPA
    Soldiers in Guinea say President Alpha Conde has been detained by soldiers in the capital Conakry. EPA
  • Heavy fighting broke out in the city on Sunday. EPA
    Heavy fighting broke out in the city on Sunday. EPA
  • The soldiers have imposed a nationwide curfew 'until further notice'. EPA
    The soldiers have imposed a nationwide curfew 'until further notice'. EPA
  • Guinean police drive through the central district of Kaloum, Conakry, after sustained gunfire in the capital. AFP
    Guinean police drive through the central district of Kaloum, Conakry, after sustained gunfire in the capital. AFP
  • Gunfire was heard in Conkary before soldiers claimed they ousted Mr Conde. AFP
    Gunfire was heard in Conkary before soldiers claimed they ousted Mr Conde. AFP
  • An army vehicle on the streets of Conakry. Reuters
    An army vehicle on the streets of Conakry. Reuters
  • The soldiers have said they dissolved Mr Conde's government and seized power. AFP
    The soldiers have said they dissolved Mr Conde's government and seized power. AFP
  • The country's Defence Ministry has said the soldiers were 'repelled'. AFP
    The country's Defence Ministry has said the soldiers were 'repelled'. AFP
  • Soldiers travel through Conakry. AFP
    Soldiers travel through Conakry. AFP

Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow was trying to make plans for its forward Francois Kamano to return to Russia, it said, but have not been able to fly him out. He was at his home and communicating with club staff.

“Due to the difficult political situation in Guinea at the current moment all routes are blocked in and out of the country where our player is located,” Lokomotiv said in a statement.

Morocco's squad were able to fly out of Guinea on Sunday after intervention by Morocco's King Mohammed VI. Defender Nayef Aguerd said the king also organised for extra security at the hotel during those anxious hours on Sunday.

Although Fifa and the Confederation of African Football said they were closely monitoring the situation, it was unclear how it might be able to help to get Guinea players back to their clubs.

  • People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. AFP
    People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. AFP
  • Soldiers in Guinea on Sunday claimed they had detained the president and staged a coup, in the latest political upheaval to roil the impoverished west African country. AFP
    Soldiers in Guinea on Sunday claimed they had detained the president and staged a coup, in the latest political upheaval to roil the impoverished west African country. AFP
  • Members of Guinea's armed forces celebrate after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. Guinean special forces seized power in a coup on September 5, arresting the president and imposing an indefinite curfew in the poor west African country. AFP
    Members of Guinea's armed forces celebrate after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. Guinean special forces seized power in a coup on September 5, arresting the president and imposing an indefinite curfew in the poor west African country. AFP
  • People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry, September 5, 2021. AFP
    People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry, September 5, 2021. AFP
  • People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. Guinean special forces seized power in a coup on September 5, arresting the president and imposing an indefinite curfew in the poor west African country. AFP
    People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. Guinean special forces seized power in a coup on September 5, arresting the president and imposing an indefinite curfew in the poor west African country. AFP
  • People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. Guinean special forces seized power in a coup, arresting the president and imposing an indefinite curfew in the poor west African country. AFP
    People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. Guinean special forces seized power in a coup, arresting the president and imposing an indefinite curfew in the poor west African country. AFP
  • People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry, September 5, 2021. AFP
    People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry, September 5, 2021. AFP
  • People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. - Guinean special forces seized power in a coup on September 5, arresting the president and imposing an indefinite curfew in the poor west African country. AFP
    People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. - Guinean special forces seized power in a coup on September 5, arresting the president and imposing an indefinite curfew in the poor west African country. AFP
  • People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces. AFP
    People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces. AFP
  • People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces . AFP
    People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces . AFP
  • People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. AFP
    People celebrate in the streets with members of Guinea's armed forces after the arrest of Guinea's president, Alpha Conde, in a coup d'etat in Conakry. AFP




Updated: September 07, 2021, 10:52 AM