AfCON 2012: Diarra shortlisted

Waiting for his final list of twenty three players selected for the 2012 African Cup of Nations, the selector of Mali, Alain Giresse, has revealed a first list of twenty seven players called-up for a trainign camp from 8th to 10th January. After these three days, scheduled in Lomé (Togo), the twenty three chosen players will continue the stage until the 20th January, date of their departure to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, hosts of the final phase.

Among the twenty shortlisted players, there is the young Rennes’ forward Cheick Fantamady Diarra, who is a member of the reserve team since the beginning of the season, and who made a short appearance in Madrid in Europa League. This selection is quite logical, since Diarra was called-up several times by Giresse on the last months.

Among the Malian pre-selection, where the Barcelone’s player Seydou Keita appears as a leader, many players of Ligue 1 are selected, such as Coulibaly (Brest), Drissa Diakité (Nice), Fofana (Toulouse), Maïga (Sochaux), Abdou Traoré and Cheick Tidiane Diabaté (Bordeaux), Bakaye Traoré and Samba Diakité (Nancy).