June 5, 2026

Ouaga Press

Independent English-language coverage of Burkina Faso's most pressing news and developments.

Mali national team lineup revealed for friendly against Iran

The Mali national football team is fine-tuning its strategy in Antalya, Turkey, ahead of today’s high-stakes international friendly against Iran at 16:30 GMT. Under the guidance of their coaching staff, the Eagles of Mali have crafted a tactical setup designed for both defensive solidity and attacking flair, setting their sights on dictating play from the opening whistle.

As revealed in the official squad image, goalkeeper duties will fall to D. Diarra (16). The defensive backbone features N. Gassama (4), K. Sidibe (6), O. Camara (5) and W. Coulibaly (26), forming a compact unit to thwart opposition advances. Midfield maestro A. Dieng (23), serving as captain, will spearhead proceedings, supported by L. Coulibaly (11) and M. Sangaré (8) to bridge defense and attack. The frontline attack will be led by G. Diarra (21), G. Diakité (17) and M. Doumbia (18), tasked with stretching Iran’s defense and creating scoring opportunities.