Carteron names strong-studded team for Rwanda qualifier

2014 World Cup qualifier

March 24

Rwanda vs. Mali

International friendly match

March 20

Rwanda vs. Libya

MALI head coach Patrice Carteron has named a 22-man squad for a World Cup qualifier against Rwanda due this Sunday at Amahoro stadium.

Mali players assembled on Sunday in Paris, France where they will train before flying to Kigali mid next week.

Carteron made drastic changes in the squad boosting their CAN team with bringing in two new players namely; Abdulwahid Sissoko [Brest, France,] and Mana Dembele who has scored 11 goals for Clermont Foot in France, Ousmane Coulibaly [Brest, France].

Assistant goalie Abdoulaye Samaké [Club Olympique de Bamako] has replaced Aly Yirango who was involved in Afcon finals in South Africa while AC Milan pair of U20 midfielder Bakaye Traore, Auxerrois Amadou Sidibe and Bordeaux midfielder Abdou Traore have been included in the squad.

Players who will have omitted include Kalilou Traoré and Modibo Maiga and the quartet of Mahamane Traore, Kalilou Traore, Sambou Yatabare, Cheick Diabate are all suspended.

Mali, who have never played at the World Cup, are 24th after climbing one place in the current Fifa world cup rankings. Mali lost the opening match against Benin 1-0 away but bounced back to beat Algeria 2-1 at home.

They are placed third and tied on three points with Algeria, one point behind Benin and a point above Rwanda who have one point.

Meanwhile, Amavubi joined camp on Friday with 14 local players at Sports View hotel. They beat Isonga 2-0 in a training match on Saturday with Patrick Sibomana and Peter Kagabo scoring both goals.

Three of the ten professional players namely; Jessy Reindorf [UR Namur], Kalisa Mao [TP Mazembe] and Dady Birori [AS Vita] joined camp last night.

Four more players; Elias Uzamukunda [AS Cannes], Steven Godfroid [St. Giloisse] and Tanzania’s Yanga pair of Mbuyu Twite and Haruna Niyonzima join Amavubi camp today.

 

Mali team:

Goalkeepers: Mamadou Samassa (Guingamp, France), Soumbeyla Diakite (Stade Malien), Abdoulaye Samaké (COB).

Defenders: Adama Tamboura (FC Randers, Denmark), Mahamadou N’Diaye (Guimaraes, Portugal), Molla Wagué (Caen, France), Fousseyni Diawara (AC Ajaccio, France), Amadou Sidibe (Auxerre, France), Adama Coulibaly (Auxerre , France), Salif Coulibaly (Djoliba AC), Ousmane Coulibaly (Brest, France).

Midfielders: Samba Diakité (QPR, England), Mohamed Sissoko (Fiorentina, Italy) Abdulwahid Sissoko (Brest, France), Samba Sow (Lens, France), Seydou Keita (Aerbin Dalian, China), Bakaye Traoré (AC Milan, Italy).

Forwards: Cheick Diarra Fantamady (Rennes, France), Abdou Traoré (Bordeaux, France), Sigamary Diarra (AC Ajaccio, France), Mana Dembele (Clermont Foot, France), Mamadou Samassa (Chievo Verona, Italy).