Mali national football team

The Mali national football team (French: Équipe de football du Mali) represents Mali in men's international football and is governed by the Malian Football Federation. The team's nickname is Les Aigles. They represent both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Mali women's national football team.

Mali
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Les Aigles (The Eagles)
AssociationMalian Football Federation
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachÉric Chelle
CaptainHamari Traoré
Most capsSeydou Keita (102)[1]
Top scorerSeydou Keita (25)
Home stadiumStade du 26 Mars
FIFA codeMLI
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 47 Increase 2 (26 October 2023)[2]
Highest23 (June 2013)
Lowest117 (October 2001)
First international
 Mali 4–3 Central African Republic 
(Madagascar; 13 April 1960)
Biggest win
 Mali 11–0 Mauritania 
(Senegal; 1 October 1972)
Biggest defeat
 Algeria 7–0 Mali 
(Algeria; 13 November 1988)
 Kuwait 8–1 Mali 
(Kuwait City, Kuwait; 5 September 1997)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances13 (first in 1972)
Best resultRunners-up (1972)
African Nations Championship
Appearances3 (first in 2011)
Best resultRunners-up (2016, 2020)

While Mali is a major youth football power in both Africa and the world, they have never qualified for any senior FIFA World Cup finals in history. They have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations on 13 occasions.

Mali were suspended by FIFA on 17 March 2017 due to 'government interference' with the national football association, namely dissolving its executive committee.[3] However, the side was re-instated by FIFA on 29 April after the executive committee was re-introduced by the Malian government.[4]

History

Mali reached the 1972 African Nations Cup final, but lost 3–2 to Congo. They failed to qualify for the finals again until 1994 when they reached the semi-finals, an achievement repeated in 2002, 2004, 2012 and 2013.

They played their first World Cup qualifier in the year 2000. As part of the CAF's qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup, Mali lost in the preliminary round to Libya. Two years later, the country hosted the 2002 African Cup of Nations.[5]

Mali's under-23's team managed to qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece. The team coached by Cheick Kone managed to reach the quarter-finals of the Olympic tournament before losing to Italy.[6]

In the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, Mali beat Guinea-Bissau in the preliminaries. In the resulting second round, Mali finished fifth in its group. On 27 March 2005, riots broke out in Bamako after Mali lost a World Cup qualifier to Togo, 2–1 on a last minute goal.[7]

In the 2010 African Nations Cup, Mali made football headlines for coming back from losing 4–0 with eleven minutes left to level 4–4 with Angola.[8] It is considered to be one of the best comebacks in recent memory, alongside Sweden's famous comeback against Germany in a 2014 World Cup qualifier with a same scoreline.

Team kit
Manufacturer Period
Italy Kappa1998–2003
France Baliston2003–2007
France Airness2007–

Results and fixtures
Main article: Mali national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2022
23 September Friendly Mali  1–0  Zambia Bamako, Mali
  • Touré 9'
 Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars
16 November Friendly Algeria  1–1  Mali Oran, Algeria
Stadium: Oran Olympic Stadium

2023
8 January Friendly Mali A'  0–0  Uganda A' Tunisia
15:00 UTC+1 Report
10 January Friendly Mali A'  1–0  DR Congo A' Hammam Sousse, Tunisia
15:00 UTC+1 Report Stadium: Stade Municipal Bou Ali-Lahouar
16 January 2022 CHAN Mali A'  3–3  Angola A' Oran, Algeria
16:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
  • Dilson 12', 26', Yellow card 38'
  • Gilberto 72'
  • Victoriano Yellow card 88'
 Stadium: Miloud Hadefi Stadium
Referee: Karim Sabry
24 January 2022 CHAN Mauritania A'  1–0  Mali A' Oran, Algeria
16:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Miloud Hadefi Stadium
Referee: Mohamed Hussein
24 March 2023 AFCON qualification Mali  2–0  Gambia Bamako, Mali
19:00 UTC±0
Report Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars
Referee: Jean Ouattara (Burkina Faso)
28 March 2023 AFCON qualification Gambia  1–0  Mali Casablanca, Morocco
16:00 UTC±0
Report Stadium: Stade Mohamed V
Referee: Kouassi Attisso Attiogbe (Togo)
18 June 2023 AFCON qualification Congo  0–2  Mali Brazzaville, Congo
17:00 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat
Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)
8 September 2023 AFCON qualification Mali  4–0  South Sudan Bamako, Mali
19:00 UTC±0
Report
  • Toha Yellow card 74'
 Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars
Referee: Mehrez Melki (Tunisia)
13 October Friendly Mali  1–0  Uganda Bamako, Mali
Sinayoko 73' (pen.) Report Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars
17 October Friendly Saudi Arabia  1–3  Mali Portimão, Portugal
 Report
Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Portimão
November 2026 World Cup Qualification Mali  v  Chad Bamako, Mali
Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars
November 2026 World Cup Qualification Central African Republic  v  Mali

Coaching staff
PositionName
Head coach Mali Eric Chelle
Assistant coach Mali Fousseni Diawara
Goalkeeper coach Mali Mahamadou Sidibé

Coaching history
Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against  South Sudan on 8 September 2023.[9]

Caps and goals updated after the match against  South Sudan on 8 September 2023.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
16 1GK Djigui Diarra (1995-02-27) 27 February 1995 50 0 Tanzania Young Africans
1 1GK Ibrahim Mounkoro (1990-02-23) 23 February 1990 14 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe
22 1GK Ismael Diawara (1994-11-11) 11 November 1994 7 0 Sweden Malmö FF
2 2DF Hamari Traoré (1992-01-27) 27 January 1992 47 1 Spain Real Sociedad
15 2DF Mamadou Fofana (1998-01-21) 21 January 1998 33 1 France Amiens
17 2DF Falaye Sacko (1995-05-01) 1 May 1995 32 1 France Montpellier
5 2DF Kiki Kouyaté (1997-04-15) 15 April 1997 25 0 France Montpellier
-- 2DF Massadio Haïdara (1992-12-02) 2 December 1992 15 2 France Lens
3 2DF Amadou Dante (2000-10-07) 7 October 2000 5 0 Austria Sturm Graz
13 2DF Mamadou Traoré (1994-10-03) 3 October 1994 2 0 Qatar Muaither
6 2DF Sikou Niakaté (1999-07-10) 10 July 1999 1 0 Portugal Braga
-- 3MF Amadou Haidara (1998-01-31) 31 January 1998 35 2 Germany RB Leipzig
21 3MF Adama Traoré (1995-06-28) 28 June 1995 34 5 England Hull City
8 3MF Diadie Samassékou (1996-01-11) 11 January 1996 34 1 Greece Olympiacos
20 3MF Lassana Coulibaly (1996-04-10) 10 April 1996 32 0 Italy Salernitana
10 3MF Yves Bissouma (1996-08-30) 30 August 1996 30 3 England Tottenham Hotspur
23 3MF Aliou Dieng (1997-10-15) 15 October 1997 27 2 Egypt Al-Ahly
4 3MF Mohamed Camara (2000-01-06) 6 January 2000 18 3 France Monaco[lower-alpha 1]
18 3MF Cheick Doucouré (2000-01-08) 8 January 2000 12 0 England Crystal Palace
7 3MF Kamory Doumbia (2003-02-18) 18 February 2003 4 3 France Reims
-- 3MF Ismaila Coulibaly (2000-12-25) 25 December 2000 1 0 England Sheffield United
14 4FW Adama Traoré (1995-06-05) 5 June 1995 49 8 Hungary Ferencváros
-- 4FW Moussa Doumbia (1994-08-15) 15 August 1994 39 5 Saudi Arabia Al-Adalah
-- 4FW Sékou Koïta (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 20 4 Austria Red Bull Salzburg
19 4FW Moussa Djenepo (1998-06-15) 15 June 1998 31 3 Belgium Standard Liège
9 4FW Ibrahima Koné (1999-06-16) 16 June 1999 16 13 Spain Almería
12 4FW Nene Dorgeles (2002-12-23) 23 December 2002 5 0 France Auxerre
11 4FW Lassine Sinayoko (1999-12-08) 8 December 1999 7 2 Austria Red Bull Salzburg
-- 4FW Boubacar Traoré (1999-12-14) 14 December 1999 2 0 Tunisia Union Monastirienne
-- 4FW Fousseni Diabaté (1995-10-18) 18 October 1995 0 0 Serbia Partizan

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Mali in the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Aboubacar Doumbia (1995-04-19) 19 April 1995 0 0 Mali Afrique Football Élite v.  Gambia, 28 March 2023
GK Germain Berthé (1993-10-24) 24 October 1993 4 0 Mali Real Bamako v.  Algeria, 16 November 2022
DF Almamy Touré (1996-04-28) 28 April 1996 1 0 Unattached v.  Congo, 18 June 2023
DF Moussa Diarra (2000-11-10) 10 November 2000 1 0 France Toulouse v.  Gambia, 28 March 2023
DF Issiar Dramé (1999-02-16) 16 February 1999 0 0 France Bastia v.  Gambia, 28 March 2023
DF Daouda Guindo (2002-10-14) 14 October 2002 0 0 Switzerland St. Gallen v.  Algeria, 16 November 2022
MF Fady Sidiki Coulibaly (2002-01-27) 27 January 2002 1 0 Mali Djoliba v.  Algeria, 16 November 2022
MF Boubacar Traoré (2001-08-20) 20 August 2001 1 0 England Wolverhampton Wanderers v.  Algeria, 16 November 2022
FW El Bilal Touré (2001-10-03) 3 October 2001 15 5 Italy Atalanta v.  Congo, 18 June 2023
FW Kalifa Coulibaly (1991-08-21) 21 August 1991 30 6 Free agent v.  Algeria, 16 November 2022
FW Aboubacar Diarra (1993-05-22) May 22, 1993 1 0 Jordan Al-Wehdat v.  Algeria, 16 November 2022
FW Ibrahim Diarra (1998-05-19) May 19, 1998 0 0 France GOAL FC v.  Algeria, 16 November 2022

DCL Player refused to join the team after the call-up.
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
RET Player has retired from international football.
SUS Suspended from the national team.

Records
As of 8 September 2023[10]
Players in bold are still active with Mali.
Seydou Keita is Mali's top goalscorer and their most capped player.
Most appearances
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1Seydou Keita102251998–2015
2Mahamadou Sidibé9701996–2010
3Bassala Touré95171992–2008
4Adama Tamboura8902004–2015
5Adama Coulibaly8511998–2014
6Soumaila Coulibaly83141995–2009
7Mahamadou Diarra7371998–2012
8Modibo Maïga58122007–2016
9Ousmane Farota5701985–1997
10Fousseni Diawara5602001–2015
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1Seydou Keita251020.251998–2015
2Frédéric Kanouté23390.772004–2010
3Bassala Touré17950.181994–2008
4Cheick Diabaté15380.392005–2016
5Yaya Dissa14420.331995–2001
Soumaila Coulibaly14830.171995–2009
7Ibrahima Koné13170.762017–present
8Modibo Maïga12580.212007–2016
9Salif Keïta11260.421964–1972
10Mahamadou Dissa10350.291997–2008
Mamadou Diallo10450.222001–2010

Competition records

FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930Did not enter Did not enter
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962
England 1966Withdrew Withdrew
Mexico 1970Did not enter Did not enter
West Germany 1974
Argentina 1978
Spain 1982
Mexico 1986
Italy 1990
United States 1994Withdrew Withdrew
France 1998
South Korea Japan 2002Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 3 4
Germany 2006 12 4 2 6 15 15
South Africa 2010 12 6 3 3 21 15
Brazil 2014 6 2 2 2 7 7
Russia 2018 8 1 4 3 4 11
Qatar 2022 8 5 2 1 11 1
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/22 0 0 0 0 0 0 48 19 13 16 61 53

Africa Cup of Nations
Main article: Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations

Mali have never won the Africa Cup of Nations; their best result at the tournament was runners-up in 1972. Mali have qualified for the tournament thirteen times in total, finishing as runners-up once, third twice, and fourth three times. Prior to 2008, each time Mali qualified, they reached the knockout stage having only qualified four times before then.

Africa Cup of Nations record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Sudan 1957 Part of  France Part of  France
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962 Did not enter Did not enter
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965 Did not qualify Did not qualify
Ethiopia 1968
Sudan 1970
Cameroon 1972 Runners-up 2nd 5 1 3 1 11 11 Squad 4 3 1 0 7 2
Egypt 1974 Did not qualify 4 1 3 0 8 6
Ethiopia 1976 2 1 0 1 5 3
Ghana 1978 2 1 0 1 1 2
Nigeria 1980 Did not enter
Libya 1982 4 2 0 2 7 7
Ivory Coast 1984 4 2 0 2 5 6
Egypt 1986 4 1 2 1 4 9
Morocco 1988 Withdrew
Algeria 1990 6 2 3 1 8 7
Senegal 1992 6 0 3 3 2 7
Tunisia 1994 Fourth place 4th 5 2 0 3 4 8 Squad 6 3 1 2 8 7
South Africa 1996 Did not qualify 10 5 1 4 15 10
Burkina Faso 1998 6 3 0 3 9 9
Ghana Nigeria 2000 8 3 4 1 8 3
Mali 2002 Fourth place 4th 6 2 2 2 5 5 Squad Qualified as hosts
Tunisia 2004 Fourth place 4th 6 3 1 2 10 10 Squad 6 4 1 1 9 2
Egypt 2006 Did not qualify 12 4 2 6 15 15
Ghana 2008 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 1 3 Squad 6 3 3 0 10 1
Angola 2010 Group stage 9th 3 1 1 1 7 6 Squad 12 6 3 3 21 15
Gabon Equatorial Guinea 2012 Third place 3rd 6 3 1 2 6 5 Squad 6 3 1 2 9 6
South Africa 2013 Third place 3rd 6 2 2 2 7 8 Squad 2 2 0 0 7 1
Equatorial Guinea 2015 Group stage 10th 3 0 3 0 3 3 Squad 6 3 0 3 8 6
Gabon 2017 Group stage 12th 3 0 2 1 1 2 Squad 6 5 1 0 13 3
Egypt 2019 Round of 16 11th 4 2 1 1 6 3 Squad 6 4 2 0 10 2
Cameroon 2021 Round of 16 11th 4 2 2 0 4 1 Squad 6 4 1 1 10 4
Ivory Coast 2023 Qualified In progress
Morocco 2025 To be determined To be determined
Total Runners-up 13/34 54 19 19 16 65 65 — 136 65 32 38 199 133

African Nations Championship

Mali has competed in five African Nations Championship tournaments, finishing as runners-up twice.

African Nations Championship record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Ivory Coast 2009 Did not qualify 2 0 2 0 0 0
Sudan 2011 Group stage 13th 3 0 1 2 1 3 2 1 1 0 3 1
South Africa 2014 Quarter-finals 8th 4 2 1 1 6 5 2 1 0 1 3 2
Rwanda 2016 Runners-up 2nd 6 3 2 1 6 6 4 2 2 0 7 4
Morocco 2018 Did not qualify 4 1 2 1 6 3
Cameroon 2020 Runners-up 2nd 6 2 3 1 3 3 4 3 1 0 9 0
Algeria 2022 Group stage 15th 2 0 1 1 3 4 2 2 0 0 4 1
Total Runners-up 5/7 21 7 8 6 19 21 20 10 8 2 32 11

African Games
See also: Mali national under-23 football team
African Games record
Year Result Pld W D L GF GA
Republic of the Congo 1965Runners-up5311105
Nigeria 1973Did not qualify
Algeria 1978Group stage302135
Kenya 1987Did not qualify
1991–present See Mali national under-23 football team
Total2/483321310

Head-to-head record
Team Confederation P W D L GF GA GD
 Algeria CAF 24102122236–14
 Angola CAF 412185+3
 Benin CAF 168712716+11
 Botswana CAF 7601195+14
 Burkina Faso CAF 2113353620+16
 Cameroon CAF 602438–5
 Cape Verde CAF 7322104+6
 Chad CAF 220042+2
 China AFC 210135–2
 Congo CAF 10523149+5
 DR Congo CAF 6312119+2
 Croatia UEFA 100112–1
 Egypt CAF 10424880
 Equatorial Guinea CAF 330050+5
 Eritrea CAF 220030+3
 Ethiopia CAF 210143+1
 Gabon CAF 122551016–6
 Gambia CAF 187562216+6
 Ghana CAF 173681428–14
 Guinea CAF 3910171243430
 Guinea-Bissau CAF 12921269+17
 Iran AFC 110021+1
 Ivory Coast CAF 2628161747–30
 Japan AFC 1010110
 Kenya CAF 211042+2
 North Korea AFC 100101–1
 South Korea AFC 100113–2
 Kuwait AFC 3003410–10
 Liberia CAF 105321911+8
 Libya CAF 7313910–1
 Lithuania UEFA 110031+2
 Madagascar CAF 110020+2
 Malawi CAF 531185+3
 Mauritania CAF 3018756023+37
 Morocco CAF 195681231–19
 Mozambique CAF 320143+1
 Namibia CAF 421153+2
 Niger CAF 8521104+6
 Nigeria CAF 9135512–7
 Oman AFC 201112–1
 Qatar AFC 1010000
 Rwanda CAF 311132+1
 Saudi Arabia AFC 210146–2
 Senegal CAF 32812123341–8
 Seychelles CAF 220050+5
 Sierra Leone CAF 13472179+8
 South Africa CAF 412142+2
 South Sudan CAF 220050+5
 Sudan CAF 421174+3
 Togo CAF 146262315+8
 Tunisia CAF 8404880
 Uganda CAF 412184+4
 United Arab Emirates AFC 1010000
 Zambia CAF 502338–5
 Zimbabwe CAF 621345–1

Team honours
As of 14 August 2017

Continental

Other tournaments

Notes
  1. Monaco is a Monégasque club playing in the French football league system.

See also

References
  1. "Seydou Keïta – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Rec. Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. 12 March 2015. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  2. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  3. "FIFA Suspends Malian Football Association (FEMAFOOT)". FIFA. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  4. "Caf [sic] confirm Mali's suspension has been lifted by Fifa [sic]". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  5. "Mali 2002 - The African Cup Of Nations XXIII - The Qualification". the-shot.com. The Shot. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  6. "Italy down brave Mali in extra time (1:0)". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 21 August 2004. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  7. "Mali soccer fans burn cars, riot after World Cup qualifier". usatoday.com. The Associated Press. 28 March 2005. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  8. "Angola 4–4 Mali". BBC Sport. 10 January 2010. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  9. "Here's the 28 draft picks!". Facebook. Fédération Malienne de Football. Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  10. Mamrud, Roberto. "Mali - Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
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