Jomo's Berthe gets Mali start
PSL star Ousmane Berthe starts for Mali
Size matters say Botswana
Jomo Cosmos ace Ousmane Berthe will replace Mahamadou Ndiaye in
the heart of the Mali defence for Saturday night’s Africa Cup of Nations Group
D clash other the Eagles are unchanged from their win over Guinea.
Berthe was cut from the final 23-man squad for this competition only to be recalled in place of the injured Mohammed Fofana.
The 23-year-old Berthe has already won 10 caps for Mali.
Mahamadou Ndiaye, 21, from Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes paired skipper Cedric Kante in the 1-0 win over West African rivals Guinea.
With a virtually unchanged XI, it means that debut boy Samba Diakite, who celebrated his 23rd birthday against Guinea Tuesday night, will thus win his second cap.
Diakite, who could soon join Lyon from Nancy in the French league, has opted to feature for Mali even though he is also eligible to play for France as he was born there.
Mali and Ghana are top of Group A with three points from one match.
Guinea and Botswana are yet to record any points.
Meanwhile, Mali forward Mahamane Traore has resumed light training at the team’s Africa Cup of Nations base in Bongoville, Gabon.
Traore jogged on his own Thursday evening.
Coach Alain Giresse is willing to gamble on the player who has over 20 caps despite concerns that his foot injury could keep him out of the rest of the tournament,
Mali withdrew at the last minute an earlier application to replace Traore with Cheick Fantamady Diarra after officials opted to give him a chance to recover and still feature at the later stages of the tournament.
Berthe was cut from the final 23-man squad for this competition only to be recalled in place of the injured Mohammed Fofana.
The 23-year-old Berthe has already won 10 caps for Mali.
Mahamadou Ndiaye, 21, from Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes paired skipper Cedric Kante in the 1-0 win over West African rivals Guinea.
With a virtually unchanged XI, it means that debut boy Samba Diakite, who celebrated his 23rd birthday against Guinea Tuesday night, will thus win his second cap.
Diakite, who could soon join Lyon from Nancy in the French league, has opted to feature for Mali even though he is also eligible to play for France as he was born there.
Mali and Ghana are top of Group A with three points from one match.
Guinea and Botswana are yet to record any points.
Meanwhile, Mali forward Mahamane Traore has resumed light training at the team’s Africa Cup of Nations base in Bongoville, Gabon.
Traore jogged on his own Thursday evening.
Coach Alain Giresse is willing to gamble on the player who has over 20 caps despite concerns that his foot injury could keep him out of the rest of the tournament,
Mali withdrew at the last minute an earlier application to replace Traore with Cheick Fantamady Diarra after officials opted to give him a chance to recover and still feature at the later stages of the tournament.
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