Africa: Mali Go With Tried and Trusted for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

16 March 2025
Confederation of African Football (Giza)

Mali have kept faith with the squad that saw them secure TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualification last November for this month's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against the Comoros Islands and the Central African Republic.

Coach Tom Saintfiet has called up 26 players for the clashes against the Comoros on March 20 and the Central African Republic four days thereafter.

Both Group I matches are being played in Morocco with Comoros hosting Malin in Berkane and the Central Africans hold their 'home' match in Casablanca.

Mali trail joint group leaders Comoros and Ghana by four points with six matches to play.

Saintfiet told a press conference he was looking to keep continuity in the squad although has brought in 26-year-old striker Mustapha Sangare from Levski Sofia in Bulgaria for his first call-up.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Djigui Diarra (Young Africans, Tanzania), Ismael Diawara (Sirius, Sweden), Youssouf Koita (Djoliba)

Defenders: Amadou Dante (Arouca, Portugal), Abdoulaye Diaby (St Gallen, Switzerland), Salim Diakite (Palermo, Italy), Moussa Diarra (Deportivo Alaves, Spain), Fode Doucoure (Red Star, France), Issiar Drame (Estrela Amadora, Portugal), Mamadou Fofana (New England Revolution, USA), Cheick Oumar Konate (Clermont Foot, France), Sikou Niakate (Braga, Portugal)

Midfielders: Yves Bissouma (Tootenham Hotspur, England), Mohamed Camara (Al Sadd, Qatar), Lassana Coulibaly (Lecce, Italy), Aliou Dieng (Al Kholood, Saudi Arabia), Mamadou Sangare (Rapid Vienna, Austria), Ibrahima Sissoko (VfL Bochum, Germany)

Forwards: Mamadou Camara (Laval, France), Nene Dorgeles (Salzburg, Austria), Kamory Doumbia (Stade Brest, France), Sekou Koita (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Ibrahima Kone (Al Okhdood, Saudi Arabia), Youssoufou Niakite (Bani Yas, United Arab Emirates), Mustapha Sangare (Levski Sofia, Bulgaria), El Bilal Toure (VfB Stuttgart, Germany),

Read the original article on CAF.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2025 Confederation of African Football. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.