West Ham midfielder Mohamadou Kanté won his first cap for Mali on Friday in Bamako, coming on in the 65th minute against Rwanda (3-2) and picking up a yellow card on his debut.
Mohamadou Kanté waited until the 65th minute to step onto the pitch in Bamako on Friday, in Mali’s CAN 2027 qualifier against Rwanda. The 21-year-old West Ham United midfielder replaced Amadou Haidara with the score at 2-2, reports WestHamWorld.
The young international’s first cap ended with a yellow card, according to WestHamZone, but also with a win for the Eagles (3-2). Mali came from behind twice before Mamadou Camara scored the winner six minutes from time.
Sangare and Haidara ahead of him
Head coach Anthony Da Silva had made other choices for his starting XI: Brentford midfielder Mamadou Sangare and Amadou Haidara were preferred to Kanté in midfield, WestHamZone notes. Eligible for France and Senegal, Kanté had himself opted for Mali, WestHamWorld recalls.
His introduction illustrates the role the Mali coach has in mind: Kanté looked like a rotation option in midfield, in a match where Mali came from behind twice. The Eagles’ collective performance was also marked by Lassine Sinayoko’s assist, according to FBref data.
A profile praised by the local press
Before the match, Le Buteur Mali had profiled the player, highlighting qualities capable of bringing something different to the Mali midfield. WestHamWorld relays that presentation, which mentions “activity, driving forward and attacking efficiency”.
The Malian outlet saw those assets as a way of giving Anthony Da Silva a different option in midfield. Kanté’s first appearance, coming on at 2-2 and then picking up a yellow, remains a mixed start on a personal level, however.
Group K and the return to West Ham
Thanks to that win, Mali climb to first place in Group K, according to Yahoo Sports and WestHamZone. The Eagles will continue their CAN 2027 qualifying campaign at the top of their group.
Kanté, for his part, will return to West Ham United after the international break.