MALI / CAN 2013: RETURN OF COULIBALY AND DIARRA
Adama Coulibaly (Auxerre/FRA) and Mahamadou Diarra (Fulham/ENG) are set to make their return for the Mali national football team in the upcoming match against Botswana on September 8. The match is part of the final round of CAN (African Cup of Nations) qualifying for the 2013 tournament. The new Mali coach, Frenchman Patrice Carteron, has included the two experienced players in the 23-man squad. Other returning players include midfielders Mahamane Traoré (OGC Nice/FRA), Sigamary Diarra (AC Ajaccio/FRA), and defender Fousseyni Diawara (AC Ajaccio/FRA).
Three new faces have been called up, namely goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa (EA Guingamp/FRA), defender Makan Traoré (Laval/FRA), and Mohamed Traoré (FUS Rabat/MAR).
The complete Mali squad:
Goalkeepers: Oumar Sissoko (FC Metz/FRA), Mamadou Samassa (EA Guingamp/FRA), Soumbeyla Diakité (Stade Malien Bamako)
Defenders: Adama Coulibaly (Auxerre/FRA), Adama Tamboura (Randers FC/DEN), Ousmame Berthé (Jomo Cosmos/RSA), Mahamadou N’Diaye (Vitoria Guimarães/POR), Idrissa Coulibaly (Espérance Tunis/TUN), Makan Traoré (Laval/FRA), Fousseyni Diawara (AC Ajaccio/FRA), Mohamed Traoré (FUS Rabat/MAR)
Midfielders: Seydou Kéita (Aerbin Dalian/CHN), Kalilou Traoré (OB Odense/DEN), Abdou Traoré (Bordeaux/FRA), Mahamadou Diarra (Fulham/ENG), Samba Sow (RC Lens/FRA), Bakaye Traoré (AC Milan/ITA), Mahamane Traoré (OGC Nice/FRA), Samba Diakité (Queens Park R./ENG), Sigamary Diarra (AC Ajaccio/FRA)
Forwards: Modibo Maïga (West Ham/ENG), Cheick Tidiane Diabaté (Bordeaux/FRA), Mamadou Samassa (Valenciennes/FRA)
