Absences leave Mali squad short of experience

Mali coach Alain Giresse on Friday named a 22-man squad for next month’s 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cape Verde, but has to do without several of his key players.

Mali, who did not qualify for the World Cup in South Africa, will be without Sevilla striker Freddie Kanoute, Barcelona’s Seydou Keita and Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

“Kanoute informed me officially of his decision to retire from international football,” said Frenchman Giresse.

“Seydou Keita is undecided about what he wants to do in the future, he wants ‘to be able to see things clearly’. So he is sitting this one out. As for Momo Sissoko, it appears his head is elsewhere.”

Giresse also said he was surprised that Lorient’s Sigamary Diarra had made himself unavailable as he played in the friendly match against Guinea on August 11.

Mali meet Cape Verde in Praia on September 4.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Oumar Sissoko (Metz/FRA), Soumbeyla Diakite (Stade Malien), Adama Keita (Club Olympique Bamako)

Defenders: Adama Tamboura (Metz/FRA), Adama Coulibaly (Auxerre/FRA), Amadou Sidibe (Auxerre/FRA), Ousmane Berthe (Jomo Cosmos/RSA), Drissa Coulibaly (JS Kabylie/ALG), Issiaka Eliassou (Al Masry/EGY), Drissa Diakite (Nice/FRA), Abdoulaye Maiga (Stade Malien)

Midfielders: Ismael Keita (Nantes/FRA), Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid/ESP), Bakaye Traore (Nancy/FRA), Sambou Yatabare (Caen/FRA), Sidi Yaya Keita (Lens/FRA) Lassana Fane (El Merreikh/SUD), Souleymane Keita (Sivasport/TUR)

Attackers: Mamadou Samassa (Valenciennes/FRA), Modibo Maiga (Sochaux/FRA), Mustapha Yatabare (Boulogne/FRA), Mohamed Traore (Club Africain/TUN)