Mali have announced their final squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations with many key players set to miss out.
Mali are set to take on Bafana Bafana in their first AFCON group stage clash on 16 January and it appears that Eric Chelle's side will be missing some key players for the tournament.
According to Reuters, the high flying Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure is sidelined due to Achilles tendon surgery while El Bilal Toure from Serie A side Atalanta is still recovering from a thigh injury.
Meanwhile, Standard Liege star Moussa Djenepo, who previously played for Southampton is also unavailable.
Massadio Haidara from RC Lens and Ibrahima Kone, who is based in Spain, also missed out due to injury.
Interestingly, the uncapped duo of Wolverhampton Wanderers' midfielder Boubacar Traore, who previously showcased his skills at Mali's junior level, and FC Lorient striker Sirine Doucoure have been included in the 27-man squad.
The injury hit side will lock horns with Guinea-Bissau in a friendly on Saturday before they will embark on their Group E campaign in Ivory Coast.
Similarly, Bafana Bafana are also missing Lebo Mothiba through injury while Lyle Foster was not able to join the squad.
Here is the full squad:
Goalkeepers: Aboubacar Doumbia (Afrique Football Elite), Djigui Diarra (Young Africans), Ismael Diawara (Malmo)
Defenders: Amadou Dante (Sturm Graz), Moussa Diarra (Toulouse), Mamadou Fofana (Amiens), Boubacar Kiki Kouyate (Montpellier), Sikou Niakate (Sporting Braga), Falaye Sacko (Montpellier), Hamari Traore (Stade Rennais)
Midfielders: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur), Mohamed Camara (Monaco), Lassana Coulibaly (Salernitana), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly), Kamory Doumbia (Stade Brest), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Diadie Samassekou (Hoffenheim), Adama 'Noss' Traore (Hull City), Boubacar Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Forwards: Fousseni Diabate (Lausanne Sport), Nene Dorgeles (Salzburg), Sirine Doucoure (Lorient), Moussa Doumbia (Al Adala), Sekou Koita (Salzburg), Youssoufa Nikaite (Bani Yas), Lassine Sinayoko (AJ Auxerre), Ibrahima Sissoko (Saint Etienne).
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