Guinea: Yasser Baldé – “I do not deny Morocco”

Yasser Baldé, central defender at Stade Lavallois in Ligue 2, recently represented Guinea in the FIFA Series tournament. For his first two selections with Syli National, he was lined up from the start against Vanuatu (6-0) and Bermuda (5-1).

If he chose to play for Guinea, the 31-year-old Tango could also have chosen to represent Lions of the Atlas. In an interview published on Thursday by Guinea’s football federation, he nevertheless made it known that he does not deny his Moroccan origins even if he chose another country: “I do not deny my Moroccan origins, I love and adore Morocco, it is my mother’s country“, but his heart leaned towards the Guinean selection, where the competition is also less strong for his position.

A choice he does not regret. “It is a great pride for me to represent Guinea and to wear the Syli jersey, I know my father is very proud of me. Above all, I am proud to have worn the number 5 that my brother Dian Bobo Baldé had worn with Guinea (67 caps between 2000 and 2012, editor’s note). It is a great joy for all of us. And when I see on social networks that the supporters are happy and proud to see me wearing this jersey, all this gives me joy and pride.” he confided.

Yasser Baldé: “It is a pride for me to represent Guinea”#FGF I #SyliNational https://t.co/KjD9lZ852b

— Guinea Football Federation (@fgfofficiel) March 28, 2024

A late bloomer

Going international in your thirties is not really common. But when we take a closer look at Yasser Baldé’s career, this is ultimately not surprising. He trained at AJ Auxerre without breaking through and toured the Ligue 2 and National 1 clubs (the French third division) for seven years, before entering the professional world with Stade Lavallois, whose rise he contributed to. in Ligue 2 in the summer of 2022. Since then? 36 games (2 goals) in the lobby of the French elite, including 19 this season. Despite the ups and downs, the Brignoles-born defender managed to find a place at the Mayenne club, 4th in L2 and still in the fight for promotion. League 1. Certainly a strong reinforcement for the Syli National, which he hopes to continue with in June, this time in a team that includes the usual leaders.