Naby Keïta “Safe and Well” Following Military Coup in Guinea

Over the weekend, a military coup in Guinea forced the World Cup qualifier set for Monday between that nation and Morocco to be called off, with the Moroccan team evacuated from the country on Sunday.

The situation for the Guinean players, including Liverpool’s Naby Keïta, has been somewhat less clear. Today, though, sources within the club say they are satisfied that Keïta is safe and that the club are currently working to bring the player back.

“We are in constant contact with Naby and have had regular communication via his national team management,” a spokesman for Liverpool Football Club told the Press Association on Monday.

“We are satisfied that he is safe and well cared for. Obviously the situation is fluid and we will maintain regular dialogue with the relevant authorities as we work to get Naby back to Liverpool in a timely and secure manner.”

The latest reports are that landing and take off clearances are being arranged for a private jet secured to bring Keïta and a number of his national team teammates out of the country, with the players waiting at the team hotel.

On Sunday, following news of gunfire and fighting around the presidential palace in Conakry, soldiers took control of state television to announce president Alpha Condé had been detained and the government dissolved.

That was followed by claims from elements loyal to the president that the attackers had been repelled, but as of Monday it appears the the coup, ousting a leader in power since 2010, was successful.

Subsequent statements from Guinean military representatives have claimed that, while detained, Condé is safe and unharmed, though as yet news organizations say they have not been given access to proof of such.