Head coach Anthony Da Silva has called up Mohamadou Kanté, the West Ham midfielder, for the first time with Mali. The 21-year-old will face Rwanda on 13 and 17 November.
Mohamadou Kanté (formerly Abou Kanté), a 21-year-old midfielder playing for West Ham, has been called up to the Mali national team for the first time by Anthony Da Silva. The news, revealed by Footafrica.net, concerns a player who came through the ranks at Paris FC and could also have worn the colours of France or Senegal.
The call-up covers matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Mali and Rwanda both have six points in Group K after the first two matchdays. The head coach has named a 24-man squad featuring two new call-ups, Moussa Yéo and Mohamadou Kanté, according to APA News.
A player who could choose his national team
Born in the Paris region to a Senegalese family, Mohamadou Kanté came through the ranks at Paris FC before joining West Ham. According to SeneNews, he chose to wear Mali’s colours even though he could also have played for France or Senegal.
Hammers fans particularly appreciate him for his performance in the derby against Millwall. Coming on at half-time, he scored before being sent off, according to Green Street Hammers.
A standout start in the Championship
West Ham are playing in the Championship this season, and Kanté has scored 3 goals and provided 2 assists in 12 appearances, according to Dailysports and Green Street Hammers. Last season, he played only 11 Premier League matches.
This first call-up therefore comes as the player is making real progress within the London squad. His journey from Paris FC now leads him to the Mali national team.
Two matches against Rwanda
Mali will host Rwanda on 13 November in Bamako, before travelling to Kigali on 17 November. These two matches count towards matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and Mohamadou Kanté has been called up for them.
Along with Moussa Yéo, he is one of the two new call-ups in the 24-man squad named by Anthony Da Silva for the double-header.