Mali announce squad for AFCON 2025; Yves Bissouma included

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :December 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM

Modified at :December 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM

Mali announce squad for AFCON 2025; Yves Bissouma included

The Eagles will face Zambia in their opening game of the competition.

Tom Saintfiet, the head coach of Mali’s national football team, revealed his 28-man roster for the forthcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Star midfielder Yves Bissouma’s comeback and a sizable group of players from France’s Ligue 1 are the team’s highlights.

The Belgian coach has announced his roster for the upcoming AfCON, which will feature players from 24 clubs. Yves Bissouma, a midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur who missed Mali’s most recent international break, is a crucial choice.

Bissouma, 29, has not played for Tottenham since being benched before the UEFA Super Cup match against Paris Saint-Germain in August. Two months later, he underwent knee surgery following an injury sustained during a World Cup qualifying match for Mali.

The Eagles have a difficult schedule as they play in Group A: Zambia on December 22, the host country Morocco on December 26, and Comoros on December 29.

Also read: Nigeria announce final squad for AFCON 2025; Victor Osimhen included

Mali announce squad for AFCON 2025

Goalkeepers: Djigui Diarra (Young Africans), Ismael Diawara (Sirius), Mamadou Sawassa (Laval)

Defenders: Ousmane Camara (Angers), Woyo Coulibaly (Sassuolo), Amadou Dante (Arouca), Abdoulaye Diaby (Grasshoppers), Fode Doucoure (Le Havre), Mamadou Fofana (New England Revolution), Nathan Gassama (Baltika), Sikou Niakate (Sporting Braga), Hamari Traoré (Paris FC)

Midfielders: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur), Mohamed Camara (Al Sadd), Lassana Coulibaly (Lecce), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly), Mahamadou Doumbia (Al Ittihad), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Mamadou Sangaré (Racing Lens), Ibrahima Sissoko (VfL Bochum)

Forwards: Mamadou Camara (Laval), Gaoussou Diakité (Lausanne Sports), Gaoussou Diarra (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Nene Dorgeles (Fenerbahçe), Kamory Doumbia (Stade Brestois), Mamadou Doumbia (Watford), Lassine Sinayoko (Auxerre, France), Moussa El Bilal Toure (Besiktas, Turkey).

Six Mali players will represent us in AFCON 2025 ❤️🇲🇱 Fodé Doucouré🇲🇱 Hamari Traoré🇲🇱 Ousmane Camara🇲🇱 Mamadou Sangaré🇲🇱 Kamory Doumbia🇲🇱 Lassine Sinayoko pic.twitter.com/JBhqfgXAxp
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 11, 2025

Which group are Mali in?

Mali are in group A.

When is their first game?

Their first game is on 22nd December.

Have they ever won the AFCON trophy?

They have never won the trophy despite reaching the final in 1972.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.