Nations Cup 2015: Bouna Sarr turns down Guinea

Bouna Sarr

Bouna Sarr has turned down the chance to play for Guinea at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, his French club Metz announced on Saturday.

French-born Sarr was named by Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer in his squad for the for the 17 January to 8 February finals last week.

It has been confirmed that the 22 year old declined the invitation.

Sarr's French club, Metz, explained his decision on their official website.

"Bouna Sarr was selected by Michel Dussuyer to be part of the Guinea team, which comes as a surprise.

"But the young French-Guinean midfielder, who is at a crucial stage of his career eventually preferred, with a heavy heart, to reject the call-up to the Syli Nationale and focus on his career with FC Metz," the club announced.

Dussuyer, who has already been forced to respect the wishes of Ismael Bangoura not to play at the Nations Cup in order to concentrate on his French club Nantes, is expected to announce a replacement for Sarr next week.

Sarr, who was promoted to the Metz first-team squad in July 2011, has made 13 league appearances for the newly-promoted side in the French Ligue 1 this season.

Guinea will face Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Mali in Group D at the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

After a chequered qualification history, this will be the eleventh time Guinea have taken part in the Cup of Nations.

Quaterfinalists in 2004, 2006 and 2008, Guinea's best Nations Cup came in 1976 when they finished runners-up to Morocco in a heartbreaking final.

For the only time in its history, the Nations Cup was decided by a mini-league with the Guineans' final group match against the Atlas Lions effectively serving as the final.

With four minutes left, the Syli Nationale had one hand on the trophy until the Moroccans equalised to top the group and so win the title.