Mali will welcome several regulars back to their squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Congo on Sunday but must do without three of their Premier League players.
Coach Éric Chelle has named a total of 28 players for the trip to Brazzaville on Sunday where Mali take on Congo’s Red Devils.
Mali head the Group G standings and will qualify for the January’s finals in the Ivory Coast but Congo can join them on nine points if they win.
Returning to the Mali squad are goalkeeper Ibrahim Mounkoro (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), defenders Almamy Touré (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany) and Mamadou Traoré (Vojvodina, Serbia) and centre-forwards Ibrahima Koné (Lorient, France) and El Bilal Touré (Almeria, Spain).
After missing several recent call-ups, the 27-year-old winger Fousseni Diabaté from Partizan Belgrade in Serbia gets another opportunity to win his first cap.
But not selected is Abdoulaye Doucouré, who scored the goal that won his club Everton a reprieve from potential relegation on the last day of the Premier League season. He has not played since the World Cup playoffs against Tunisia in March last year.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Yves Bissouma is injured while Moussa Djenepo, because of lack of playing time at relegated Southampton, has been dropped.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Djigui Diarra (Young Africans, Tanzania), Ismaël Diarra Diawara (Malmö, Sweden), Ibrahim Mounkoro (TP Mazembé, DR Congo)
Defenders: Amadou Danté (Sturm Graz, Austria), Mamadou Fofana (Amiens, France), Massadio Haïdara (Racing Lens, France), Boubacar Kiki Kouyaté, Falaye Sacko (both Montpellier, France), Almamy Touré (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Hamari Traoré (Stade Rennes, France), Mamadou Traoré (Volvodina, Serbia)
Midfielders: Mohamed Camara (Monaco, France), Ismaël Coulibaly (Sheffield United, England), Lassana Coulibaly (Salernitana, Italy), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly, Egypt), Cheick Oumar Doucouré (Crystal Palace, England), Kamory Doumbia (Stade Reims, France), Amadou Haïdara (RB Leipzig, Germany), Diadié Samassékou (Olympiakos, Greece), Adama ‘Noss’ Traoré (Hull City, England)
Forwards: Fousseni Diabaté (Partizan Belgrade, Serbia), Nene Dorgelès (RB Salzburg, Austria), Moussa Doumbia (Sochaux, France), Sékou Koïta (RB Salzburg, Austria), Ibrahima Koné (Lorient, France), El Bilal Touré (Almeria, Spain), Adama Traoré (Ferencvaros, Hungary), Boubacar Traoré (US Monastir, Tunisia).