Mali have selected West Ham midfielder Mohamadou Kante for the first time in a 24-man squad for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Rwanda on 13 and 17 November.
The squad was announced by the Federation malienne de football (Femafoot) on Monday, with head coach Anthony Da Silva rewarding the 21-year-old after he chose to represent the Eagles ahead of France and Senegal, the country of his parents’ origin.
Kante, a defensive midfielder by position, has recently been used further forward by West Ham. He has scored three goals and provided two assists in his past nine appearances for the Hammers.
Born in the Paris region, Kante could give Mali added physical strength and an aerial threat if Da Silva deploys him in attack during the two matches.
Moussa Yeo is the other uncapped player in the squad. The 22-year-old Swansea winger can play on either flank and has scored three times in his past five matches for the club.
Fode Doucoure of Nantes, Salzburg midfielder Gaoussou Diakite and Montpellier forward Mamadou Camara have also been recalled after extended absences.
Doucoure and Diakite had not featured for Mali since May, while Camara’s last appearance for the national team came at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in January.
The remainder of the squad is largely unchanged, with established players including Hamari Traore, Aliou Dieng, Amadou Haidara, Kamory Doumbia, Lassine Sinayoko, Mamadou Doumbia, Dorgeles Nene and Ousmane Camara all retained.
However, Da Silva will be without Ange Martial Tia, who impressed for Stade de Reims in September but is unavailable because of an ankle injury.
Adama Camara, who has a hamstring problem, and Lassana Coulibaly, suffering from an injury to his biceps femoris, are also absent.
Mali began their qualifying campaign with victories over Cape Verde and Liberia, winning 3-1 and 1-0 respectively. They are joint leaders of Group K with Rwanda.
The two matches could determine whether Mali move clear at the top of the section. Two victories would leave the Eagles as outright leaders and put them significantly closer to qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.