Mali name squad for Cup of Nations qualifiers

Mali must do without captain Yves Bissouma with new coach Anthony da Silva calling up four new players as they begin their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign this month.

Mali are up against World Cup surprise package Cape Verde in Bamako on September 23 when they open their Group K campaign before travelling to Liberia four days later. They will then play a friendly away against Tunisia on October 3.

Bissouma, who skippered Mali as they reached the quarterfinals at the last Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, is suspended after being sent off in the 0-1 loss to Senegal in Tangier on January 9.

He has also been released by Tottenham Hotspur and has not found a new club and would therefore unlikely have been called up even if he was available.

The newcomers include Adama Camara (29), a late developer in professional football but now an undisputed starter at Paris FC in Ligue 1, and the 30-year-old Saudi-based Alimami Gory.

They will be joined by youngsters Ange Martial Tia (19), who has made an excellent start to the season in Ligue 2 with Stade Reims, and Émile Doucouré, who is only 18, and a reserve at Belgian club Racing Genk.

New coach Da Silva’s appointment has raised eyebrows because of his limited experience as a head coach. The Frenchman was an assistant coach with Cameroon between 2019 and 2022.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Djigui Diarra (Young Africans, Tanzania), Émile Doucouré (Racing Genk, Belgium), Mamadou Samassa (Stade Lavallois, France), Ngolo Traoré (Stade Malien)

Defenders: Adama Camara (Paris FC, France), Ousmane Camara (Angers, France), Amadou Dante (Zbrojovka Brno, Czech Republic), Nathan Gassama (Baltika Kaliningrad, Russia), Daouda Guindo (Stade Reims, France), Check Keita (Royal Charleroi, Belgium), Modibo Sagnan (Rizespor, Turkey), Hamari Traore (Paris FC, France)

Midfielders: Lassana Coulibaly (Lecce, Italy), Ousmane Diakite (West Bromwich Albion, England), Aliou Dieng (Valencia, Spain), Issa Djiguiba (Rayon Sport, Rwanda), Kamory Doumbia (Stade Brest, France), Amadou Haidara (Racing Lens, France), Mamadou Sangare (Brentford, England)

Strikers: Nene Dorgeles (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Gaoussou Diarra (Feyernoord, Neterlands), Alimami Gory (Abha Club), Lassine Sinayoko (Paris FC, France), Moussa Sylla (Schalke 04, Germany), Ange Martial Tia (Stade Reims, France), El Bilal Toure (Parma, Italy).