Bissouma included in Mali’s AFCON squad
Long-term absentee Yves Bissouma was included in Mali’s squad for its Africa Cup of Nations tilt despite the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder not having played for his club this season.
Coach Tom Saintfiet named him in a 28-man selection for the tournament in Morocco, where Mali plays its first game on 23 December (AEDT).
Bissouma, 29, has yet to feature for Spurs since being dropped before the UEFA Super Cup clash with Paris Saint-Germain in August and two months later had ankle surgery after suffering an injury playing in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Mali opens its Group A campaign against Zambia in Casablanca and then takes on host Morocco before a clash with Comoros.
Mali squad
Goalkeepers: Djigui Diarra (Young Africans), Ismael Diawara (Sirius), Mamadou Sawassa (Laval)
Defenders: Ousmane Camara (Angers), Woyo Coulibaly (Sassuolo), Amadou Dante (Arouca), Abdoulaye Diaby (Grasshoppers), Fode Doucoure (Le Havre), Mamadou Fofana (New England Revolution), Nathan Gassama (Baltika), Sikou Niakate (Sporting Braga), Hamari Traoré (Paris FC)
Midfielders: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur), Mohamed Camara (Al Sadd), Lassana Coulibaly (Lecce), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly), Mahamadou Doumbia (Al Ittihad), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Mamadou Sangaré (Racing Lens), Ibrahima Sissoko (VfL Bochum)
Forwards: Mamadou Camara (Laval), Gaoussou Diakité (Lausanne Sports), Gaoussou Diarra (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Nene Dorgeles (Fenerbahçe), Kamory Doumbia (Stade Brestois), Mamadou Doumbia (Watford), Lassine Sinayoko (Auxerre, France), Moussa El Bilal Toure (Besiktas, Turkey).
