Mali

Nickname: Les Aigles (The Eagles)
Coach: Jean-François Jodar,
Captain: Mahamadou Diarra
FIFA Ranking: 46
ANC Appearances 4 (First in 1972)
Best result: Second place, 1972

The Eagles emerged tops in what was described as one of the toughest groups in the qualifiers.

The Malians had to wrestle the group's only slot at the backyard of their closest contenders, Togo who they beat 2-0 in the final qualifier.

Mali's fifth appearance at the continent's biggest football event. Though Mali, has never won the African Cup, they are one of the teams to watch out for at the coming championship.

Since they hosted in 2002 they have raised their standard and most of their players are now featuring for top clubs in Europe Fred Kanoute (Seville), Mohammed Sissoko (Liverpool), Djimi Traore (Portsmouth), Mohamadou Diarra (Real Madrid) are some of their super stars who will certainly draw the crowds to their matches.

Playing in a group with Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin.

Players

Goalkeepers
Mahamadou Sidibé (Pasginnia, Grèce), Soumaïla Diakité (Stade malien/ Mali), Oumar Sissoko (Metz, France) Defenders
Souleymane Diamouténé (Lecce, Italie), Adama Coulibaly (Lens, France), Cedric Kanté (OGC Nice, France), Adama Tamboura (Helsingborg, Suède), Sammy Traoré (Auxerre, France), Boubacar Koné (Fès, Maroc), Moussa Coulibaly (Mouloudia d'Alger, Algérie), Amadou Sidibé (Djoliba, Mali) Midfielders
Drissa Diakité (OGC Nice, France), Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid, Espagne), Momo Sissoko (Liverpool, Angleterre), Seydou Keïta (FC Séville, Espagne), Djibril Sidibé (Châteauroux, France), Bassala Touré (Levadiakos, Grèce), Souleymane Dembélé (Djoliba, Mali)

Strikers
Frédéric Oumar Kanouté (FC Séville, Espagne), Mamadou Diallo (FC Qatar), Mamadi Sidibé (Stoke City, Angleterre), Dramane Traoré (Locomotive de Moscou, Russie), Mahamadou Dissa (Rookers, Belgique)

African Nations Cup Record

1957 to 1963 - Did not enter
1965 to 1970 - Did not qualify
1972 - Second place
1974 - Did not qualify
1976 - Did not qualify
1978 - Disqualified
1980 - Did not enter
1982 to 1986 - Did not qualify
1988 - Withdrew
1990 - Did not qualify
1992 - Did not qualify
1994 - Fourth place
1996 - Did not qualify
1998 - Did not qualify
2000 - Did not qualify
2002 - Fourth place
2004 - Fourth place
2006 - Did not qualify
2008 - Qualified