Naby Keita Named to CAN-Guinea Team in Guinea Despite Losing the Liverpool Champions League Final

Naby Keita was included in Guinea's team for the Africa Cup of Nations – despite the absence of the Liverpool Champions League final.

Keita, 24, will miss Saturday's European event against Tottenham due to a thigh injury.

He was the victim of the problem in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona and should not be in shape before the start of next season.

But Guinea thinks it will be ready to play when the CAN starts on June 21st.

The competition in Egypt was initially considered too early for Keita.

However, they have the right to call Keita and their own medical team gave his opinion to say that they thought he was sufficiently recovered to be named.

Keita is the biggest star of Guinea. They will face Burundi, Madagascar and Nigeria in their Group B matches.

Friendly matches against Gambia and Benin on 7 and 11 June respectively have been held, but Keita is not expected to participate in these matches.

Liverpool had a dispute with Guinea FA over Keita's fitness diagnosis shortly after the start of his injury.

The president of the Guinean Football Federation, Antonio Souare, has criticized in Liverpool his erroneous verdict on his injury.

Souare said earlier in the month: "We wish Naby a very good and quick recovery first, and as far as I know, adductors can not stop him from playing the 2019 Nations Cup of Nations.

"The adductors [injury] is two to three weeks of unavailability. The Liverpool coach has to pull himself together, let the doctors do their job.

"Naby Keita belongs to a state before he belongs to Liverpool, I remind the Liverpool coach a little if he does not know him.

"It is therefore rushed and pretentious to make such statements.What we know is that Naby Keita will play at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations."