Mali announce 31-man squad for Ghana and Iran friendlies

Mali announced its squad of 31 players to play international friendlies against Ghana and Iran later this month.

The match against Ghana is scheduled for October 9, and the Iran clash will be on October 13, with both matches played in Antalya, Turkey.

The squad draws on players who ply their trade abroad, except for goalkeepers Djigui Diarra and Adama Kéïta.

Mali coach Mohamed Magassouba recalled French side Guingamp defender Sikou Niakate for the second time, while Yves Bissouma, Moussa Marega and Mamadou Samassa return to the squad.

The Eagles coach also handed a recall to English Premier League side Wolverhampton’s Adama Traore. The winger was recalled to the Spain national team last month, before leaving the camp after testing positive for Covid-19. Magassouba also recalled Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure and selected French-based El Bilal Toure for the first time.

Mali play in Group A of the Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 qualifications. They share the top spot with Guinea on four points, with Namibia and Chad completing the pool.

The Eagles – as Mali are known – face Namibia in a doubleheader in November.

Magassouba said: “We have to reduce the list to 23 players before the qualifiers resumption. We will face teams of great value. There are certainly other difficulties to be added to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the door remains open.”

Squad
Goalkeepers: Djigui Diarra (Stade Malien), Ibrahim Mounkoro (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Mamadou Samassa (Sivasspor, Turkey), Adama Keïta (Djoliba)

Defenders: Hamari Traore (Rennes, France), Falaye Sacko (Vitória Guimarães, Portugal), Massadio Haïdara (Lens, France), Charles Traore (Nantes, France), Molla Wague (Amiens, France), Mamadou Fofana (Metz, France) , Boubacar Kouyaté (Metz, France), Sikou Niakate (Guingamp, France)

Midfielders: Diadié Samassekou (Hoffenhein, Germany), Cheick Doucouré (Lens, France), Amadou Haïdara (RB Leipzig, Germany), Lassana Coulibaly (Angers, France), Mohamed Camara (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), Adama Noss Traoré (Hatayspor, Turkey), Yves Bissouma (Brighton, England), Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton, England)

Forwards: Moussa Djenepo (Southampton, England), Adama Malouda Traoré (Al Adalah, Saudi Arabia), Moussa Doumbia (Reims, France), Abdoulaye Diaby (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Kalifa Coulibaly (Nantes, France), Sékou Koïta (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), El Bilal Touré (Reims, France), Moussa Maréga (Porto, Portugal), Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton, England), Hadi Sacko (Denizlispor, Turkey), Kevin Zohi (Strasbourg, France).

In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo