The Mali squad that has reached the final of the CAF Nations Championships here in Rwanda has one of the youngest teams in the competition.

You could imagine how the team managed to weather fb e storm up staging the likes of Tunisia and Ivory Coast to reach the final and in contention  for the ultimate price. A  ssquad list that Soka25east is in possession  from CAF shows that  only two players in the starting eleven against Ivory Coast was born before 1990.The two forwards experienced Hamidou Sinayoko (29yrs) of Djoliba and Stade Malien’s Mamadou Coulibally(30yrs) are the oldest players.

USCK  mmidfielder  Sekou Koita born on 28/11/1999 is the youngest with Aliou Deng(1997),Abdoul Karim Dante(1998),Mousa Sisoko(1995),Mamadou Doumbia(1995) and keeper Djigui Diarra (1995) among the youngest players that graced the semis.

These are  mostly the players that featured for Mali in the U17 World Cup in Mexico where Mali reached………… 

Story teller coach Djibril Drame said he still had faith in the U17 team and  the only additions were the above mentioned duo together with Onze Creatures keeper Allasane Diallo who is 27 years.

Mali Will confront the Leopards of Congo in the final match in what pundits expect to be a game of experience against a young determined Mali side.

The match will be played at the Stade Amahoro and will be preceded by the play off match between losing semi finalist Guinea against Ivory Coast.

Austin Oduor

talking African football