[ 2011-12-27 ]

Samba Diakite of Nancy is among Mali's 27 players for the Africa Cup of Nations

Ghana’s opponents Mali name pre-Afcon squad
France-born midfielder Samba Diakite has been
named in Mali’s initial 27-man squad for the
African Cup of Nations.

The 22-year-old, who plays for French top-flight
Nancy, was handed his first Eagles call-up.
Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita was also
included suggesting he has resolved his problems
with the national football federation.

Experienced defender Adama Coulibaly was not
picked and is likely to miss out on the final
squad with injury.

Keita did not play for his country for nearly two
years before making his first appearance since the
2010 African Cup in a qualifier in September.

The 31-year-old Keita’s international comeback
continues with his inclusion in coach Alain
Giresse’s first squad for next month’s
tournament.

The squad will be whittled down to 23 before the
squad departs for the tournament to be held in
Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

The Eagles will camp in Togo from 11 to 20 January
before heading for Franceville where they will be
based during the tournament.
Mali will face Ghana, Botswana and Guinea in Group
D at the African Cup.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Oumar Sissoko (Metz, France),
Soumbeyla Diakite (Stade Malien), Alimamy Sogoba
(As Réal).
Defenders: Ousmane Coulibaly (Brest, France),
Idrissa Coulibaly (Esperance Tunis, Tunisia),
Drissa Diakite (Nice, France), Cedric Kante
(Panathinaikos, Greece), Mohamed Fofana (Toulouse,
France), Adama Tamboura (Metz, France ), Amadou
Sidibe (Auxerre, France), Ousmane Berthe (Jomo
Cosmos, AfSud), Mouhamadou N’Diaye (Vitoria
Guimarães, Portugal), Abdoulaye Maiga (USM Alger,
Algeria).
Midfielders: Seydou Keita (Barcelona, Spain),
Kalilou Traoré (OB Odense, Denmark), Bakay Traore
(Nancy, France), Abdou Traore (Bordeaux, France),
Samba Diakite (Nancy, France), Mahamane Traore
(Metz , France), Sidi Koné (Lyon, France), Cheick
Diarra Fatamady (Rennes, France), Souleymane Keita
(Sivasspor, Turkey), Samba Sow (Lens, France).
Forwards: Modibo Maiga (Sochaux, France), Garra
Dembele (Freiburg, Germany), Cheick Tidiane
Diabate (Bordeaux, France), Mustapha Yatabare
(Guingamp, France).

Source - Ghanasoccer

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