Qualifying campaign: Mali found no difficulty in reaching CAN for the fourth successive time after humiliating Botswana 7-1 on aggregate in the final qualifying round. History: Mali never appeared at the World Cup, but they featured in CAN seven times. Their best achievement was in the 1972 edition when they reached the final. They also finished third in 2012. Expectations: Mali have climbed to their highest position in the FIFA world rankings and have seemingly overcome the political turmoil after the coup in the country in March. They were surprise bronze medal winners at the 2012 finals and will expected to at least get through to the knockout stages again. FIFA ranking: 25 (3 in Africa) Achievements: Runners up in CAN 1972 Bronze medalists in CAN 2012 Coach: Patrice Carteron (France) Frenchman Patrice Carteron played briefly on loan at Sunderland in 2001, scoring from his defensive position in the derby against Newcastle United. The rest of his playing career was spent in France. He managed Cannes and led Dijon to promotion to Ligue 1 in 2011. Carteron lost his job just before the end of their debut season in the top flight as they went straight back down. Key players: Seydou Keita (Dalian Aerbin). Age: 32 (33 on Jan. 16). Pos: Midfielder Keita was a teenage prodigy at Olympique Marseille but failed to deliver on his early promise and spent time at Lorient and Racing Lens before moving to Spain in 2007. His transfer from Sevilla to Barcelona in May 2008 was valued at some 14-million euros and he played with the Catalans until last May, after which he left for China. Momo Sissoko (Paris St Germain). Age: 27. Pos: Midfielder Sissoko has not played for Mali since the 2010 Nations Cup, first shunning subsequent call-ups following a disappointing tournament in Angola and then once reconciled with the side missing out because of injury. Mali are taking a punt on his fitness by picking him for the 2013 finals. Modibo Maiga (West Ham United). Age: 25. Pos: Forward Played at the last two African Nations Cup finals but at the 2012 tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon he missed the later stages after contracting malaria. Moved to London in July from Sochaux. Full squad: Goalkeepers: 16- Soumbeyla Diakite (Stade Malien), 1- Mamadou Samassa (Guingamp,), 22- Aly Yirango (Djoliba AC) Defenders: 4- Adama Coulibaly (AJ Auxerre, France), 5- Idrissa Coulibaly (Al Lekihwiya), 23- Ousmane Coulibaly (Stade Brest), 19- Salif Coulibaly (Djoliba), 2- Fousseiny Diawara (AJ Ajaccio), 21- Mahamadou Ndiaye (Vitoria Guimaraes), 3- Adama Tamboura (Randers), 13- Molla Wague (SM Caen) Midfielders: 20- Samba Diakite (Queens Park Rangers), 12- Seydou Keita (Dalian Aerbin), 6- Momo Sissoko (Paris St Germain), 18- Samba Sow (Racing Lens), 8- Kalilou Traore (Sochaux), 17- Mahamane Traore (Nice), 14- Sambou Yatabare (Bastia) Forwards: 9- Cheick Tidiane Diabate (Girondins Bordeaux), 7- Cheick Fantamady Diarra (Stade Rennes), 11- Sigamary Diarra (AC Ajaccio), 10- Modibo Maiga (West Ham United), 15- Mamadou Samassa (Chievo Verona). (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/62058.aspx
