Mali’s national team, grappling with injuries, has welcomed two new players, midfielder Aboubakar Traore from Wolverhampton Wanderers and forward Sirene Dokoury from Lorient, to its roster for the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) this month.
Traore, who joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from Metz last year after an initial loan period, will make his international debut for Mali.
The midfielder has previously represented Mali in youth competitions, including the triumph in the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
Dokoury, a regular substitute this season, notched one goal in the French league for Lorient.
Coach Eric Schill, facing the absence of several key players, has called up this duo to compensate for the notable absentees in his 27-man squad, the selection for which was finalized on Wednesday.
Sheikh Dokoury, a Crystal Palace player, is sidelined after undergoing surgery for an Achilles tendon injury, while Atalanta striker Torey has not yet recovered from a serious thigh injury.
Also missing from the lineup are Ibrahim Kone, a professional in Spain, and defenders Massadio Haidara from Lens and Moussa Genibo, a former Southampton winger currently playing for Standard Liege in Belgium.
Mali is set to face Guinea-Bissau in a friendly match in Bamako on Saturday before heading to Ivory Coast to begin their journey in Group F against South Africa on January 16.
They will also play against Tunisia and Namibia in the group stage matches of the tournament.
