Mali head coach Eric Sekou Chelle has called on 27 players to represent the country at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Chelle, a former Mali international, has selected team captain and Spain-based Hamari Traore in his final squad, as well as other big stars like Tottenham Hostpur’s Yves Bissouma, RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Boubacar Traore, and highly-rated Al Ahly midfielder Aliou Dieng.
Les 27 retenus qui défendront les couleurs de la nation en Côte d’Ivoire ???????? pic.twitter.com/PiSR3Fbqb3
— Les Aigles Du Mali ???????????? (@AiglesDuMali_) January 2, 2024
A notable absentee in the Eagles squad is in-form Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, who decided back in November 2023 to stay with the Toffees rather than represent Mali at the AFCON.
Mali are gearing up for their 13th outing at the Africa Cup of Nations and they are drawn in Group E, alongside Namibia and one-time winners South Africa and Tunisia.
Mali will kick off their hunt for a first-ever AFCON title against the Bafana Bafana on January 16, before taking on the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia on January 20, and finally the Brave Warriors of Namibia on January 24.
FULL SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Aboubacar Doumbia (Afrique Football Elite), Djigui Diarra (Young Africans), Ismael Diawara (Malmo).
Defenders: Amadou Dante (Sturm Graz), Moussa Diarra (Toulouse), Mamadou Fofana (Amiens), Boubacar Kiki Kouyate (Montpellier), Falaye Sacko (Montpellier), Sikou Niakate (Braga), Hamari Traore (Real Sociedad).
Midfielders: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur), Mohamed Camara (Monaco), Lassana Coulibaly (Salernitana), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly), Kamory Doumbia (Brest), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Diadie Samassekou (Hoffenheim), Adama ‘Noss’ Traore (Hull City), Boubacar Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Forwards: Fousseni Diabate (Lausanne Sport), Nene Dorgeles (RB Salzburg), Sekou Koita (RB Salzburg), Sirine Doucoure (Lorient), Moussa Doumbia (Al Adalah), Youssoufa Nikaite (Bani Yas), Lassine Sinayoko (Auxerre), Ibrahim Sissoko (Saint Etienne).
