Mali hit by injury withdrawals

New Mali coach Tom Saintfiet has had to deal with eight players pulling out of the squad for the start of their African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, including captain Hamari Traore.

Mali host Mozambique in Bamako on Friday at the start of their Group I qualifiers and the travel to South Africa for a clash on Tuesday against Eswatini at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Traore had been suspended by Mali after criticising the country’s football administration for tardy organisation but was recalled for the two qualifiers over the next week, only to hurt his knee playing for Real Sociedad against Getafe in LaLiga on Sunday.

Also out are Amadou Haidara from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, the left back Massadio Haidara from Stade Brest in France and strikers Moussa Sylla from Schalke 04 in Germany; Lassine Sinayoko from newly promoted Ligue 1 club AJ Auxerre and Kevin Zohi from Sochaux, who won his only previous cap for Mali four year ago.

Also out is the teenager Malick Yalcouyé, recently loaned to Sturm Graz in Austria by Brighton & Hove Albion, who has yet to make up his mind about his international future as he is also eligible to play for the Ivory Coast.

To replace the missing players, Mali have scrambled to get three call-ups into the squad before Friday, including Watford striker Mamadou Doumbia.

Right back Fodé Doucouré from French second division side Red Star has won a first call-up while Greek based Amady Camara is recalled for the first time in three years.

Saintfiet, who previously worked in South Africa at Free State Stars, was appointed coach last week. He took Gambia to the quarter-finasl of the 2021 Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon.