Mali announce 27-man squad for AFCON 2023

Mali were the runners-up in their first-ever AFCON appearance

Mali’s head coach Eric Sekou Chelle announced their 27-player squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023. The Eagles will make their 12th appearance in the continental competition.

The West Africans, based on the border of the host nation, Ivory Coast, will undoubtedly have strong home support.

Mali have reached the last-16 in the last two AFCON tournaments and will be led by experienced wing-back Hamari Traore from LaLiga side Real Sociedad.

Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Boubacar Traore and Lorient striker Sirine Doucoure are two uncapped players in the squad.

Coach Eric Chelle, who will be without several key players in the Ivory Coast, brought in both players as replacements in his 27-man squad named ahead of today’s deadline.

They will play against Guinea-Bissau this weekend before their tournament opener against South Africa at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium on 16 January. In their second and third-group matches, Mali will then play against Tunisia and Namibia.

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Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure misses out after having surgery on an Achilles tendon injury while Atalanta forward El Bilal Toure has still not recovered from a serious thigh injury.

Also sidelined are Spain-based Ibrahima Kone, fullback Massadio Haidara from Racing Lens and former Southampton winger Moussa Djenepo, now at Standard Liege in Belgium.

Mali Squad AFCON 2023

Goalkeepers: Djigui Diarra (Young Africans SC), Aboubacar Doumbia (AFE), Ismael Diawarra (Malmo)

Defenders: Hamari Traore (Real Sociedad) Falate Sacko (Montpellier) Boubacar Kouyate (Amiens) Sikou Niakate (SC Braga), Mousa Diarra (Toulouse) Amadou Dante (Strum Graz)

Midfielders: Diadei Samassekou (Hoffenheim), Mohamed Camara (AS Monaco), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly), Lassana Coulibaly (Salernitana) Kamory Doumbia (Brest), Adama Noss Traore (Hull City), Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur), Boubacar Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Forwards: Sekou Koita (RB Salzburg), Dorgeles Nene (RB Salzburg), Moussa Doumbia (Al Adala), Fousseni Diabate (Lausanne-Sport), Ibrahim Sissoko (Saint Etienne), Lassine Sinayoko (AJ Auxerre), Youssoufa Niakate (Baniyas), Serine Doucoure (Lorient)

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