After a demanding run of matches, Mamadou Sangare will skip the international break with Mali to rest and recover.
Initially called up by head coach Tom Saintfiet, the 23-year-old player himself requested some time off, a request the Belgian coach accepted without hesitation.
“He was on the list at first, but he won’t be there. I spoke with him: he feels the need to take a breather. We respected his decision,” he explained.
Heavily relied upon both at the club and with the national team, Sangare has been playing matches at a relentless pace. A schedule that has clearly taken a toll on his stamina.
“He plays in practically every match for Mali and Lens. It’s normal that he needs to recover,” added the coach, who was full of praise for his player, highlighting his tactical intelligence, discipline, and impressive progress in recent years.
Over at Lens, the coaching staff seems to share this cautious approach. During the lopsided victory over Angers (5-1), Pierre Sage had already taken the initiative by substituting Sangare at halftime to rest him.
