Eight players, including captain Hamari Traore, were left out of the Mali team for the start of their African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, which presented a challenge for new coach Tom Saintfiet.

Starting with their Group I qualifiers on Friday in Bamako, Mali will play Mozambique. On Tuesday, they will fly to Nelspruit, South Africa, to play Eswatini at the Mbombela Stadium.

Following his criticism of Mali’s football administration for its sluggish organisation, Traore was suspended.

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However, he was called back for the two qualifiers that followed the following week, only to suffer a knee injury on Sunday while representing Real Sociedad against Getafe in La Liga.

Additionally absentees are Amadou Haidara of RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, Massadio Haidara, a left back from Stade Brest in France, and strikers Moussa Sylla of Schalke 04 in Germany, Lassine Sinayoko of recently promoted AJ Auxerre in Ligue 1, and Kevin Zohi of Sochaux, who was awarded his only cap for Mali four years ago.

Malick Yalcouyé, a teenager who was just loaned by Brighton & Hove Albion to Sturm Graz in Austria, is also out.

He is still unsure about his future as an international player because he is also qualified to represent the Ivory Coast.

Mali hastily added three call-ups—including Mamadou Doumbia of Watford—to the roster before Friday in order to cover for the absent players.

While Amady Camara, who is based in Greece, is called up for the first time in three years, right back Fodé Doucouré of Red Star, a team in the French second division, has received his first call-up. Saintfiet was named coach last week.

He had previously worked with the Free State Stars in South Africa.

He led the Gambia to the 2021 Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon’s quarterfinals.