Metz striker Modibo Maiga has earned a recall to the Mali squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The on-loan West Ham frontman has not featured for his national team since a 3-1 friendly defeat to South Korea in October 2013.
Maiga s last competitive outing came at AFCON 2013, but the 27-year-old s four goals in 10 league appearances have caught the eye of Mali coach Henryk Kasperczak, despite the striker being disciplined by the Ligue 1 club for an unauthorised absence earlier this month.
Ajaccio goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko is dropped from the squad in favour of N Tji Michel Samake who, along with Maiga and midfielder Abdou Traore, is one of three players not to have played a qualifying fixture ahead of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
Roma midfielder Seydou Keita will wear the captain s armband as Mali look to build on their third-place finish in 2013.
Mali s campaign begins against Cameroon in Malabo on January 20 before clashes with Ivory Coast and Guinea in Group D.
Squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Germain Berthe (Onze Createurs), Soumaila Diakite (Esteghlal Khuzestan), N Tji Michel Samake (CS Duguwolofila).
Defenders: Idrissa Coulibaly (Hassania Agadir), Ousmane Coulibaly (Platanias), Salif Coulibaly (TP Mazembe), Drissa Diakite (Bastia), Fousseyni Diawara (Tours), Mohamed Konate (Renaissance Berkane), Adama Tamboura (Randers), Molla Wague (Udinese).
Midfielders: Sigamary Diarra (Valenciennes), Souleymane Diarra (AS Real), Tongo Hamed Doumbia (Toulouse), Seydou Keita (Roma), Mamoutou N Diaye (Zulte Waregem), Ibourahima Sidibe (MAS Fes), Yacouba Sylla (Erciyesspor), Abdou Traore (Bordeaux), Idrissa Traore (Stade Malien).
Forwards: Cheick Tidiane Diabate (Bordeaux), Abdoulaye Diaby (Mouscron), Modibo Maiga (Metz), Bakary Sako (Wolves), Mustapha Yatabare (Trabzonspor), Sambou Yatabare (Guingamp).
Reserves: Cheick Fantamady Diarra (Auxerre), Souleymane Diarra (AS Real), Abdoulay Samake (CO Bamako), Khalifa Traore (SCO Angers), Idrissa Traore (Stade Malien), Mohammed Traore (El Merreikh).
