2026 World Cup qualifiers: Mali to play without four key players | OneFootball

2026 World Cup qualifiers: Mali to play without four key players

Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet must prepare for the seventh and eighth rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers without four of the team’s main pillars.

The Eagles’ training camp kicked off on Monday, September 1, with 17 players already present at the team base in Saïdia, in the Berkane region of Morocco. The rest of the squad arrived on September 2, completing the national team lineup.

On the other hand, four Malian national team stars were not called up by the Belgian coach. Speaking from Berkane, Morocco, Tom Saintfiet explained the reasons for these absences in a video posted on the digital platforms of the Malian Football Federation.

Who are they and why are they out?

First up is playmaker Yves Bissouma. The 29-year-old Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is missing from the squad. Tom Saintfiet said: “He is injured.”The second absentee is versatile midfielder Amadou Haidara. The RB Leipzig Bundesliga star is also sidelined due to injury.

Alongside these two midfield stars, the Eagles will also be without defender Abdoulaye Diaby. The 25-year-old center-back is currently without a club after leaving FC St. Gallen of the Swiss Super League.

As for forward El Bilal Touré, who was recently loaned to Turkish side Beşiktaş from Italy’s Atalanta Bergamo, he has opted to focus on his club duties, according to the coach.

Despite these significant absences, the 52-year-old Belgian coach remains confident ahead of the crucial upcoming fixtures. Mali currently sits fourth in Group I with 9 points, trailing leaders Ghana by 6 points. To keep their World Cup hopes alive, winning the next two matches is absolutely vital.