Kasperczak Names 23-Man Mali Squad for Crucial AFCON Qualifiers Against Ethiopia
Mali national team coach Henryk Kasperczak has announced his 23-man squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Ethiopia, scheduled for October 11 and 15.
The Eagles are gearing up for matchdays three and four of the qualifiers, with a key away fixture in Addis Ababa followed by a home encounter at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako. As Mali seek to strengthen their position in Group B, Kasperczak has made a few notable changes to his squad.
Among the returnees are defender Ousmane Coulibaly, midfielder Tongo Hamed Doumbia, and winger Sigamary Diarra—each bringing valuable experience and depth back into the side. Their inclusion signals Kasperczak’s intention to reinforce the team’s midfield stability and defensive resilience.
Absent from the squad are midfielders Samba Sow and forward Mana Dembélé, both of whom remain out due to undisclosed reasons. Also missing from this round of call-ups are Molla Wagué, Touré Birama, and Nouha Dicko, all of whom featured in the squad during the opening rounds of the qualifiers.
Captain Seydou Keita, who continues to lead the team with calm authority and vast international experience, will join his teammates for a training camp in France beginning October 8. The Eagles will then fly to Ethiopia for the away leg before returning to Bamako for the reverse fixture four days later.
The squad features a healthy mix of domestic and European-based players, with Guingamp’s Mamadou Samassa, Bordeaux striker Cheick Diabaté, and AS Roma’s Seydou Keita among the headline names.
Full Mali Squad for AFCON Qualifiers vs Ethiopia:
Goalkeepers:
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Mamadou Samassa (Guingamp, France)
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Oumar Sissoko (Ajaccio, France)
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Germain Berthé (COB, Mali)
Defenders:
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Drissa Diakité (SC Bastia, France)
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Alassane També (Kortrijk, Belgium)
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Ousmane Coulibaly (Platanias FC, Greece)
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Fousseniny Diawara (Tours, France)
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Adama Tamboura (Randers, Denmark)
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Idrissa Coulibaly (Difaâ El Jadida, Morocco)
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Salif Coulibaly (TP Mazembe, DR Congo)
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Mohamed Konaté (RS Berkane, Morocco)
Midfielders:
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Bakaye Traoré (Bursaspor, Turkey)
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Seydou Keita (AS Roma, Italy)
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Tongo Hamed Doumbia (Toulouse, France)
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Sigamary Diarra (Valenciennes, France)
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Mamoutou Ndiaye (Zulte Waregem, Belgium)
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Yacouba Sylla (Erciyesspor, Turkey)
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Sambou Yatabaré (Guingamp, France)
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Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton, England)
Forwards:
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Mustapha Yatabaré (Trabzonspor, Turkey)
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Cheick Tidiane Diabaté (Bordeaux, France)
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Mohamed Traoré (Al-Merrikh, Sudan)
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Abdoulaye Diaby (Mouscron, Belgium)
With a strong and experienced squad, Mali will be hoping to secure maximum points from the two encounters and take a significant step closer to qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
