Mali return to the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a fierce sense of purpose and one familiar face at the centre of their ambitions—Aïssata Traoré.
Seven years after helping the national team reach the semi-finals in Ghana, the 27-year-old striker is once again poised to lead a squad determined to reclaim its place among the continent’s best.
Traoré arrives in Morocco on the back of a strong domestic campaign with French side Fleury in the D1 Arkema league, where she registered nine goals and four assists.
Her influence, however, extends well beyond statistics. Now a more complete player, Traoré embodies the blend of experience and grit that defines Mali’s re-energised squad.
Back in 2018, she was part of the side that made history by reaching the semi-finals of the competition. That breakthrough moment remains a milestone, but it also planted the seeds of higher expectations.
The failure to qualify for the 2022 edition was a sobering setback, one that left a mark on players and fans alike.
“Watching the tournament on TV was painful,” Traoré admits. “But we never lost belief. We knew we had the strength to come back. We just had to prove it.”
The 2024 tournament now represents more than just a return. For Traoré and her teammates, it’s the culmination of a long rebuilding process. Since joining Fleury earlier this year, her game has matured significantly.
While her finishing remains lethal, it’s her tactical intelligence, pressing, and link-up play that now make her indispensable to the Malian setup.
“Good attacking starts with good defending,” she told CAF Online. “We want to be aggressive in both boxes—score more, concede less. That’s the mindset.”
Drawn into one of the toughest groups of the competition—Group C, featuring defending champions South Africa, regional rivals Ghana, and Tanzania—Mali face an uphill battle.
But for Traoré, every match is an opportunity.
“There are no favourites in this group. Every game will be a final. We need to be ready from the first whistle,” she insists.
As one of the veterans of the team, Traoré now plays a dual role. Alongside young talents such as Agueicha Diarra, she is not only a match-winner but also a mentor, taking pride in nurturing the next generation.
“I want to be decisive on the pitch, but also to guide,” she explains. “This AFCON is different for me. I’ve been here before, I know what it demands.
We’re not in Morocco to simply take part. We’re here to compete—calmly, step by step—but with no fear.”
While the focus remains firmly on the present, Traoré has also begun to contemplate life beyond her playing career. With a thoughtful smile, she doesn’t rule out coaching: “Maybe one day I’ll be on the sidelines. Why not?”
For now, however, her sights remain firmly set on the task ahead—writing another chapter in Mali’s football story. Her message to the young girl who once chased a ball through the streets of Bamako is telling of her journey and her spirit:
“Just enjoy it. Play with love. Don’t worry about anything else. Football is, above all, a joy.”
And in 2024, that joy may once again carry Mali deep into the heart of the continent’s premier women’s tournament—with Aïssata Traoré leading the way.
