Mali national football team

Mali
Nickname(s)	Les Aigles (The Eagles)
Association	Mali Football Federation
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach	Mohamed Magassouba (caretaker)
Captain	Yacouba Sylla
Most caps	Seydou Keita (102)[1]
Top scorer	Seydou Keita (25)
Home stadium	Stade du 26 Mars
FIFA code	MLI
First colours	Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	63 (20 September 2018)
Highest	23 (June 2013)
Lowest	117 (October 2001)
Elo ranking
Current	77 (29 July 2018)
Highest	42 (1971)
Lowest	127 (September 1996)
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
Appearances	10 (first in 1972)
Best result	Runners-up, 1972
African Nations Championship
Appearances	3 (first in 2011)
Best result	Runners-up, 2016

The Mali national football team, nicknamed Les Aigles (The Eagles), is the national team of Mali and is controlled by the Fédération Malienne de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals.

Mali were suspended by FIFA on 17 March 2017.^[2]

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 and 2012.

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.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6] 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
Kappa	1998–2003
Baliston	2003–2007
Airness	2007–

Competition records

Africa Cup of Nations record

Mali has never won the Africa Cup of Nations, however their best result at the tournament was Runners-up – in 1972. Mali have qualified for the tournament ten 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	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1957	Did not enter								Did not enter
1959
1962
1963
1965	Did not qualify								Did not qualify
1968
1970
1972	Runners-up	2nd	5	1	3	1	11	11	4	3	1	0	7	2
1974	Did not qualify								4	1	3	0	8	6
1976									2	1	0	1	5	3
1978									2	1	0	1	1	2
1980									Did not enter
1982									4	2	0	2	7	7
1984									4	2	0	2	5	6
1986									4	1	2	1	4	9
1988									Withdrew
1990									6	2	3	1	8	7
1992									6	0	3	3	2	7
1994	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	4	8	6	3	1	2	8	7
1996	Did not qualify								10	5	1	4	15	10
1998									6	3	0	3	9	9
2000									8	3	4	1	8	3
2002	Fourth place	4th	6	2	2	2	5	5	Qualified as hosts
2004	Fourth place	4th	6	3	1	2	10	10	6	4	1	1	9	2
2006	Did not qualify								12	4	2	6	15	15
2008	Group stage	10th	3	1	1	1	1	3	6	3	3	0	10	1
2010	Group stage	9th	3	1	1	1	7	6	12	6	3	3	21	15
2012	Third place	3rd	6	3	1	2	6	5	6	3	1	2	9	6
2013	Third place	3rd	6	2	2	2	7	8	2	2	0	0	7	1
2015	Group stage	10th	3	0	3	0	3	3	6	3	0	3	8	6
2017	Group stage	12th	3	0	2	1	1	2	6	5	1	0	13	3
2019	To be determined								To be determined
2021
2023
Total	Runners-up	10/31	46	15	16	15	55	61	124	57	29	37	179	127

African Nations Championship record

Mali has competed in three African Nations Championship tournaments, finishing as runners-up once.

African Nations Championship record									Qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2009	Did not qualify								2	0	2	0	0	0
2011	Group stage	13th	3	0	1	2	1	3	2	1	1	0	3	1
2014	Quarter-finals	8th	4	2	1	1	6	5	2	1	0	1	3	2
2016	Runners-up	2nd	6	3	2	1	6	6	4	2	2	0	7	4
2018	Did not qualify								4	1	2	1	6	3
2020	To be determined								To be determined
Total	Runners-up	3/5	13	5	4	4	13	14	14	5	7	2	19	10

FIFA World Cup record

FIFA World Cup record									FIFA World Cup Qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Did not enter								Did not enter
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966	Withdrew								Withdrew
1970	Did not enter								Did not enter
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994	Withdrew								Withdrew
1998	Withdrew								Withdrew
2002	Did not qualify								2	1	0	1	3	4
2006									12	4	2	6	15	15
2010									16	8	3	5	30	21
2014									6	2	2	2	7	7
2018									8	1	4	3	4	10
2022	To be determined								To be determined
2026	To be determined								To be determined
Total	0 Titles	0/21	0	0	0	0	0	0	44	16	11	17	59	57

African Games record

Football at the African Games has been an under-23 tournament since 1991.

African Games record
Year	Result	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1965	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
1973	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
1978	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
1987	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
1991–present	See Mali national under-23 football team
Total	4/4	0	0	0	0	0	0

Results and fixtures

Win Draw Loss

2017

6 October 2017 2018 FIFA WCQ	Mali	0–0	Ivory Coast	Bamako, Mali
19:00 GMT		Report		Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars Referee: Hélder Martins de Carvalho (Angola)

11 November 2017 2018 FIFA WCQ	Gabon	0–0	Mali	Franceville, Gabon
15:30 WAT		Report		Stadium: Stade de Franceville Referee: Gehad Grisha (Egypt)

2018

23 March 2018 Friendly	Japan	1–1	Mali	Liège, Belgium
16:20 (UTC+2)	Nakajima 90+5'	Report	Diaby 43' (pen.)	Stadium: Stade Maurice Dufrasne Attendance: 250 Referee: Erik Lambrechts (Belgium)

9 September 2018 2019 AFCON Qual.	South Sudan	0–3	Mali	Juba, South Sudan
16:00 (UTC+3)		Report	Marega 45' S. Coulibaly 71' Traoré 87'	Stadium: Juba Stadium Referee: Rédouane Jiyed (Morocco)

12 October 2018 2019 AFCON Qual.	Mali	0–0	Burundi	Bamako, Mali
19:00 (UTC±0)		Report		Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars Referee: Maguette N'Diaye (Senegal)

16 October 2018 2019 AFCON Qual.	Burundi	v	Mali	Bujumbura, Burundi
15:00 (UTC+2)		Report		Stadium: Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique)

17 November 2018 2019 AFCON Qual.	Gabon	v	Mali	Gabon
16:00 (UTC+1)		Report

2019

22 March 2019 2019 AFCON Qual.

Mali

v

South Sudan

Mali

Players

Current squad

The following squad has been selected for 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Burundi on 12 and 16 October 2018.^[7]

Caps and goals as of 9 September 2018, after the match vs. South Sudan.^[8]

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Oumar Sissoko	(1987-09-13) 13 September 1987	29	0	Le Havre
1GK	Djigui Diarra	(1995-02-27) 27 February 1995	20	0	Stade Malien
1GK	Mamadou Samassa	(1990-02-16) 16 February 1990	12	0	Troyes
1GK	Adama Keita	(1990-05-03) 3 May 1990	1	0	Djoliba

2DF	Molla Wagué	(1991-02-21) 21 February 1991	30	4	Udinese
2DF	Salif Coulibaly	(1988-05-13) 13 May 1988	28	1	Al Ahly
2DF	Hamari Traoré	(1992-01-27) 27 January 1992	15	0	Rennes
2DF	Mamadou Fofana	(1998-01-21) 21 January 1998	4	0	Alanyaspor
2DF	Charles Traoré	(1992-01-01) 1 January 1992	3	0	Troyes
2DF	Falaye Sacko	(1995-05-01) 1 May 1995	2	0	Vitória de Guimarães

3MF	Sambou Yatabaré	(1989-03-02) 2 March 1989	33	5	Antwerp
3MF	Yves Bissouma	(1996-08-30) 30 August 1996	17	3	Brighton & Hove Albion
3MF	Lassana Coulibaly	(1996-04-10) 10 April 1996	9	0	Rangers
3MF	Diadie Samassékou	(1996-01-11) 11 January 1996	5	0	Red Bull Salzburg
3MF	Amadou Haidara	(1998-01-31) 31 January 1998	4	0	Red Bull Salzburg
3MF	Souleymane Diarra	(1995-01-30) 30 January 1995	2	0	Lens
3MF	Cheick Doucouré	(2000-01-08) 8 January 2000	0	0	Lens

4FW	Moussa Marega	(1991-04-14) 14 April 1991	16	2	Porto
4FW	Adama Traoré	(1995-06-05) 5 June 1995	14	2	Metz
4FW	Moussa Doumbia	(1994-08-15) 15 August 1994	14	2	Rostov
4FW	Abdoulay Diaby	(1991-05-21) 21 May 1991	13	5	Sporting CP
4FW	Kalifa Coulibaly	(1991-08-21) 21 August 1991	12	1	Nantes
4FW	Moussa Djenepo	(1998-06-15) 15 June 1998	4	0	Standard Liége
4FW	Hadi Sacko	(1994-03-24) 24 March 1994	1	0	Las Palmas
4FW	Almamy Gory	(1996-08-30) 30 August 1996	0	0	Le Havre

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	Aly Yirango	(1994-01-04) 4 January 1994	2	0	Dinan-Léhon	v. South Sudan, 9 September 2018

DF	Bakaye Dibassy	(1989-08-11) 11 August 1989	2	0	Amiens	v. South Sudan, 9 September 2018
DF	Abdoul Danté	(1998-10-29) 29 October 1998	7	0	Anderlecht	v. Japan, 23 March 2018
DF	Ousmane Coulibaly	(1989-07-09) 9 July 1989	27	0	Panathinaikos	v. Gabon, 11 November 2017
DF	Youssouf Koné	(1995-07-05) 5 July 1995	11	0	Reims	v. Gabon, 11 November 2017
DF	Issaka Samaké	(1994-10-20) 20 October 1994	9	0	Stade Malien	v. Gabon, 11 November 2017
DF	Sikou Niakaté	(1999-07-10) 10 July 1999	0	0	Valenciennes	v. Gabon, 11 November 2017

MF	Yacouba Sylla	(1990-11-29) 29 November 1990	34	0	Mechelen	v. South Sudan, 9 September 2018
MF	Adama Traoré	(1995-06-28) 28 June 1995	6	1	Monaco	v. Gabon, 11 November 2017

FW	Nouha Dicko	(1994-08-15) 15 August 1994	3	0	Hull City	v. South Sudan, 9 September 2018
FW	Lassana N'Diaye	(2000-10-03) 3 October 2000	0	0	Guidars	v. Japan, 23 March 2018
FW	Aly Mallé	(1998-04-03) 3 April 1998	0	0	Lorca	v. Japan, 23 March 2018
FW	Adama Niane	(1993-06-16) 16 June 1993	4	0	Troyes	v. Japan, 23 March 2018
FW	Moussa Koné	(1990-12-19) 19 December 1990	2	1	Al-Orouba	v. Gabon, 11 November 2017
FW	Aboubacar Toungara	(1994-11-15) 15 November 1994	0	0	ASFAR	v. Gabon, 11 November 2017
^DEC 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

Most capped players

As of April 6, 2018

Players in bold are still active.

#	Name	International Career	Caps	Goals
1.	Seydou Keita	1998–2015	102	25
2.	Adama Tamboura	2004–2015	89	0
3.	Adama Coulibaly	1998–2014	71	1
4.	Mahamadou Diarra	1998–2012	69	7
5.	Mahamadou Sidibé	1996–2010	62	0
6.	Modibo Maïga	2007–present	59	13
7.	Fousseni Diawara	2001–2015	55	0
8.	Soumbeïla Diakité	2006–present	51	0
9.	Souleymane Diamoutène	2003–2010	49	1
9.	Drissa Diakité	2001–2015	49	0
10.	Djibril Sidibé	2001–2008	48	4
11.	Soumaïla Coulibaly	1995–2009	47	8
12.	Bassala Touré	1994–2008	46	6
13.	Cédric Kanté	2001–2012	44	1
14.	Mamadou Diallo	2001–2010	43	10

Top goalscorers

As of April 6, 2018

Players in bold are still active.

#	Name	International Career	Goals	Caps
1.	Seydou Keita	1998–2015	25	102
2.	Frédéric Kanouté	2004–2010	23	39
3.	Salif KeÏta	1963–1972	17	?
4.	Cheick Diabaté	2005–present	15	39
5.	Modibo Maïga	2007–present	13	59
6.	Mamadou Diallo	2001–2010	10	43
7.	Bakary Sako	2014–present	9	21
8.	Soumaïla Coulibaly	1995–2009	8	47
9.	Mahamadou Diarra	1998–2012	7	69
	Mustapha Yatabaré	2009–present	7	35
	Dramane Traoré	2001–2010	7	30

Head to head records

Team	Confederation	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Algeria	CAF	24	10	2	12	22	36	–14
Angola	CAF	4	1	2	1	8	5	+3
Benin	CAF	16	8	7	1	27	16	+11
Botswana	CAF	7	6	0	1	19	5	+14
Burkina Faso	CAF	21	13	3	5	36	20	+16
Cameroon	CAF	6	0	2	4	3	8	–5
Cape Verde	CAF	7	3	2	2	10	4	+6
Chad	CAF	2	2	0	0	4	2	+2
China PR	AFC	2	1	0	1	3	5	–2
Congo	CAF	10	5	2	3	14	9	+5
DR Congo	CAF	6	3	1	2	11	9	+2
Croatia	UEFA	1	0	0	1	1	2	–1
Egypt	CAF	10	4	2	4	8	8	0
Equatorial Guinea	CAF	3	3	0	0	5	0	+5
Eritrea	CAF	2	2	0	0	3	0	+3
Ethiopia	CAF	2	1	0	1	4	3	+1
Gabon	CAF	12	2	5	5	10	16	–6
Gambia	CAF	18	7	5	6	22	16	+6
Ghana	CAF	17	3	6	8	14	28	–14
Guinea	CAF	39	10	17	12	43	43	0
Guinea-Bissau	CAF	12	9	2	1	26	9	+17
Iran	AFC	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1
Ivory Coast	CAF	26	2	8	16	17	47	–30
Japan	AFC	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
Kenya	CAF	2	1	1	0	4	2	+2
North Korea	AFC	1	0	0	1	0	1	–1
South Korea	AFC	1	0	0	1	1	3	–2
Kuwait	AFC	3	0	0	3	4	10	–10
Liberia	CAF	10	5	3	2	19	11	+8
Libya	CAF	7	3	1	3	9	10	–1
Lithuania	UEFA	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2
Madagascar	CAF	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2
Malawi	CAF	5	3	1	1	8	5	+3
Mauritania	CAF	30	18	7	5	60	23	+37
Morocco	CAF	19	5	6	8	12	31	–19
Mozambique	CAF	3	2	0	1	4	3	+1
Namibia	CAF	4	2	1	1	5	3	+2
Niger	CAF	8	5	2	1	10	4	+6
Nigeria	CAF	9	1	3	5	5	12	–7
Oman	AFC	2	0	1	1	1	2	–1
Qatar	AFC	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Rwanda	CAF	3	1	1	1	3	2	+1
Saudi Arabia	AFC	2	1	0	1	4	6	–2
Senegal	CAF	32	8	12	12	33	41	–8
Seychelles	CAF	2	2	0	0	5	0	+5
Sierra Leone	CAF	13	4	7	2	17	9	+8
South Africa	CAF	4	1	2	1	4	2	+2
South Sudan	CAF	2	2	0	0	5	0	+5
Sudan	CAF	4	2	1	1	7	4	+3
Togo	CAF	14	6	2	6	23	15	+8
Tunisia	CAF	8	4	0	4	8	8	0
Uganda	CAF	4	1	2	1	8	4	+4
United Arab Emirates	AFC	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Zambia	CAF	5	0	2	3	3	8	–5
Zimbabwe	CAF	6	2	1	3	4	5	–1

Previous squads

Africa Cup of Nations

Coaches

Dates	Name
1960–66	Ben Oumar Sy
1966–70	György Tóth
1970–73	Karl-Heinz Weigang
1973–79	empty
1979–82	Mykola Holovko
1982–89	Kidian Diallo
1989–93	Molobaly Sissoko
1993–97	Mamadou Keïta
1998–2000	Christian Sarramagna
2000–01	Romano Mattè
2001–02	Henryk Kasperczak
2002–03	Christian Dalger

Dates	Name
2003–04	Henri Stambouli
2004	Alain Moizan
2004–05	Mamadou Keïta
2005–06	Pierre Lechantre
2006	Amadou Pathé Diallo (caretaker)
2006–08	Jean-François Jodar
2008–10	Stephen Keshi
2010–12	Alain Giresse
2012	Amadou Pathé Diallo (caretaker)
2012–13	Patrice Carteron
2013	Amadou Pathé Diallo (caretaker)
2013–15	Henryk Kasperczak

Dates	Name
2015–17	Alain Giresse
2017–	Mohamed Magassouba (caretaker)

Team honours

Last updated 14 August 2017

Continental tournaments

Africa Cup of Nations

Runners-up (1):

1972

African Nations Championship