Bakaye Traoré is back with Mali’s national team, the Eagles, after a long absence. The Bursaspor midfielder had not featured since Mali’s third-place finish at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Now under coach Henry Kasperczak, Traoré is eager to make an impact as Mali prepares for two crucial AFCON 2015 qualifiers against Ethiopia.
🔁 On His Return:
“We are favorites in the group with Algeria. We want to pocket the six points to be in a comfortable position after these two matches,”
Traoré told malifootball.com.
⚠️ On Facing Ethiopia:
“There is no such thing as a small team anymore. Ethiopia has its arguments. It’s up to us to be ready and focused.”
He also noted the importance of managing energy smartly, especially considering the climatic conditions, which can be challenging in African qualifiers.
🇲🇱 Mali’s Outlook:
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Mali is looking to confirm its top-tier status in African football.
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Traoré’s return adds experience and depth to a squad aiming to qualify comfortably alongside group favorites Algeria.
With confidence high and expectations clear, the Eagles aim to take maximum points from this double-header to strengthen their path to AFCON 2015 in Morocco.
