Wed 03 January 2024, 10:30
Tottenham HotspurYves Bissouma has been named in Mali's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad.
His third appearance at the continental tournament, Yves' nation will begin their campaign in Group E where they have been drawn alongside Tunisia, South Africa and Namibia.
Hosted by Ivory Coast - Yves' country of birth, Mali take on their group stage opener on Tuesday 16 January as they take on South Africa in Korhogo (kick-off 8pm UK). They then face Tunisia four days later before finishing the group stage with a clash against Namibia on Wednesday 24 January (both 8pm UK kick-offs).
The nations which finish in the top two spots of each group will secure a place in the tournament's knockout stages while the best four third-placed finishing countries will also secure a place in the last 16.
Yves's first AFCON appearance back in 2017 saw Mali finish third in the group stages - a tournament where just the top two teams went through and Mali were drawn into a group which included eventual semi-finalists Ghana and finalists Egypt.
In his second appearance, 2022's tournament in Cameroon, his nation topped Group F to make it through to the knockout stages, but their campaign came to an end at the round of 16 stage as the fell to Equatorial Guinea on penalties.
The midfielder heads into the tournament with 24 caps and three goals to his name.
