Marseille’s Mamadou Samassa Called Up For Mali Debut

For the first time in his career, Mamadou Samassa has been called up to the Mali national team in order to play against Ghana and Benin on June 7 and 21 respectively.

Both matches will be a part of the third and final round of the joint qualifiers for the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Mohamed Sissoko of Juventus will return in time for the fixtures but there are no guarantees that he will be fit to play in the games.

It's nevertheless a welcome return for the natural leader, who will no doubt be helpful in assisting Stephen Keshi's team to gain those valuable six points they need to take the lead over Sudan, with whom they currently share the first spot.

Here is the 25 man squad:

Mahamadou Sidibe (Ethnikos, Greece), Oumar Sidibe (FC Metz, France), Adama Coulibaly (Auxerre, France), Souleymane Diamoutene (AS-Rome, Italy), Cheick O. Ballo (ASKO, Mali), Boubacar Sidiki Kone (Fes, Morocco), Drissa Diakite (Nice, France), Adama Tamboura (Helsingborg, Sweden), Modibo Maiga (Le Mans, France), Seydou Keita (FC Barcelona, Spain), Mamadou Diallo (Le Havre, France),  Frederic Oumar Kanoute (FC Seville, Spain), Mustapha Yattabare (Clermont-Ferrand, France), El Hadj Mahamane Traore (Nice, France), Bakaye Traore (Amiens, France), Sambou Yattabare (Caen, France), Bakary Soumare (Chicago Fire, USA), Mohamed Lamine Sissoko (Juventus, Italy), Souleymane Dembele (Djoliba AC, Mali), Cheick Tidiane Diabate (Ajaccio, France), Amadou Sidibe (Auxerre, France), Soumbeyla Diakite (Stade malien de Bamako, Mali), Mahamadou Samassa (Marseille, France), Djimy Boubou Kebe (Reading, England), Lassana Fane (El Merrieck,Sudan).

Massaër Ndiaye, Goal.com