Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré chose to change his nationality to play for Mali and is already in Bamako to play this Friday the first leg of the final African qualifying playoff for the Qatar 2022 World Cup against Tunisia. This was confirmed on Tuesday by the Tunisian Football Federation. Born in France, Doucouré has its origins in Mali.
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Doucouré, 29, was a French youth international and wanted to try to reach the senior ‘bleu’ team, but changed his mind after holding talks with the Mali Federation last February.
Mali also convinced Almamy Touré (25 years old, Eintracht Fraankfurt defender, like Doucouré born in France and Gallic international in lower categories) to play with the ‘Eagle’ team.
Mali, eliminated in the round of 16 of the last African Cup, has also been strengthened with the return of Cheick Doucouré (Lens) and with his former captain Abdoulay Diaby, who last played with Mali in 2019. The ‘Eagles’ team never has qualified for a World Cup. They host Tunisia on Thursday and the second leg, on Tunisian soil, will take place on Tuesday.