Mali welcome back captain for Jordan friendly
Mali have captain Hamari Traoré back in their squad for their friendly international against Jordan on November 18 as coach Tom Saintfiet picked 25 players for the match in Tunisia.
It will be the only scrimmage for Mali in the November international window as they continue their preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco next month.
Mali are in Group A with the hosts, Comoros and Zambia.
The 33-year-old Traoré returns for the first time since last playing for Mali in a friendly win over Nigeria in March 2024.
There are also returns for Mamadou Camara, Daouda Guindo and El Bilal Touré while
Saintfiet will be looking at two new players -- attacking midfielder Brahima Diarra and central defender Nathan Gassama.
Diarra was born in France and played in England at Huddersfield Town before joining Al Wahda in the United Arab Emirates.
Gassama, who plays in Russia for Baltika, began his career at Nantes and was also born in France.
Yves Bissouma, sidelined at Tottenham Hotspur, was not selected while Sikou Niakaté and Kamory Doumbia are out because of injury.
Nene Dorgelès will miss the training camp for family reasons and Abdoulaye Diaby is also absent.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Djigui Diarra (Young Africans, Tanzania), Ismael Diawara (Sirius, Sweden), Mamadou Sawassa (Laval, France)
Defenders: Ousmane Camara (Angers, France), Woyo Coulibaly (Sassuolo, Italy), Amadou Dante (Arouca, Portugal), Mamadou Fofana (New England Revolution, USA), Nathan Gassama (Baltika, Russia), Daouda Guindo (Stade Brest, France), Cheick Oumar Konate (Clermont Foot, France), Hamari Traore (Paris FC, France)
Midfielders: Mohamed Camara (Al Sadd, Qatar), Lassana Coulibaly (Lecce, Italy), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly, Egypt), Amadou Haidaras (RB Leipzig, Germany), Mamadou Sangare (Racing Lens, France)
Forwards: Mamadou Camara (Laval, France), Gaoussou Diakite (Lausanne Sports, Switzerland), Brahima Diarra (Al Wahda, United Arab Emirates), Gaoussou Diarra (Feyenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands), Fode Doucoure (Le Havre, France), Mamadou Doumbia (Watford, England), Sekou Koita (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Lassine Sinayoko (Auxerre, Frasnce), Moussa Sylla (Schalke 04, Germany), El Bilal Toure (Besiktas, Turkey).