*The Official Mali Thread*

[ZeekLTK]

This thread is for everything MALI!!











General Information
* FIFA Trigramme: MLI
* Country: Mali
* Country (official name): Republique de Mali
* Continent: Africa
* Capital: Bamako
* Major cities: Ségou, Mopti, Sikasso, Kayes, Gao, Tombouctou
* Currency: CFA franc
* Official languages: French
* Motto: One people, one goal, one faith.

Geographic Information
* Surface area: 1,240,000 km²
* Highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m.
* Neighbouring countries: Mauritania, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal
* Neighbouring seas and oceans: None

Population
* Population (in millions): 11.63
* GDP per inhabitant (in US dollars): 860
* Density (inhabitants per km2): 9.38
* Average age (in years): 16.3
* Life expectancy at birth (in years): 45.43

Football Association
Founded: 1960
Affiliated: 1962
WC participations: None
WC honours: None
Continental Titles: Copa Amilcar Cabral (1989, 1997)

Football Facts

* Mali entered the 1966, 1994, and 1998 tournaments but withdrew on all three occasions, taking to the world stage for the first time in 2002.

* It was to be a brief appearance, however, as the side fell 3-0 in the first leg against Libya. Mali battled bravely in the second leg and exited the contest with heads held high after a 3-1 victory.

* Mali reached the 1965 African Games Final against Congo, but the score remained goalless after two periods of extra-time and there was no provision for a penalty shoot-out. Mali's opponents were awarded the title for winning more corners. Mali ran up 2-1 and 2-0 victories over Guinea-Bissau to claim a place in the 2006 FIFA World Cup African qualifying group stage.

[ZeekLTK]

I am going to be traveling to Mali this summer (after the World Cup of course, couldn't miss that!!) and would like to become familiar with Mali football so I can impress the locals (), and maybe even catch one of the local league matches while I am there.

From what I've researched, Mali's top professional league has 14 teams, 8 of which are from the capital, Bamako (which is where I'll be from July 10 until August 11).

As far as I know, here are the most recent standings for the league:

1. Cercle Olympique (Bamako) 13 9 1 3 17- 9 28
2. Djoliba AC (Bamako) 13 8 3 2 28-10 27
3. Stade Malien (Bamako) 12 8 3 1 22- 9 27
4. JS Centre Setif Keita (Bamako) 13 6 4 3 19- 9 22
5. USFAS (Bamako) 13 6 4 3 15-11 22
6. AS Réal (Bamako) 13 6 3 4 18-13 21
7. AS Bamako 12 5 3 4 16-11 18
8. AS Commune II (Bamako) 13 4 4 5 17-18 16
9. Stade Malien (Sikasso) 13 4 2 7 8-18 14
10. AS Nianan (Koulikoro) 13 3 3 7 12-16 12
11. Sigui (Kayes) 13 2 5 6 3-17 11
12. AS Bakaridjan de Barouéli (Ségou) 13 2 4 7 10-18 10
-----------------------------------------------------------
13. AS Biton (Ségou) 13 3 1 9 9-26 10
14. Tata National (Sikasso) 13 1 6 6 2-11 9


I could not find a site that lists the remaining fixtures though, only past results (up until March 28, 2006). Does anyone know where I might find one?

According to the site I have found, these are the most recent results:

Round 13
[Mar 26]
Nianan 1-0 CO Bamako
Stade Sikasso 2-1 Commune II [also reported 2-0]
Bakaridjan 1-3 Stade Malien
[Mar 27]
CSK 1-1 AS Bamako
Réal 1-0 Biton
[Mar 28]
Djoliba 2-0 Tata
USFAS 0-0 Sigui

[ZeekLTK]

Bamako teams have dominated the country, winning every league and cup title since the beginning (at least according to everything I found, which only dates back to the 60s)... except for one; in 1987 AS Sigui from Kayès captured the cup by defeating AS Real (from Bamako) 2-1 in the final.

Mali League Champions
* 1966 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1967 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1968 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1969 : AS Real (Bamako)

* 1970 : Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1971 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1972 : Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1973 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1974 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1975 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1976 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1977 : pas de championnat
* 1978 : pas de championnat
* 1979 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)

* 1980 : AS Real (Bamako)
* 1981 : AS Real (Bamako)
* 1982 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1983 : AS Real (Bamako)
* 1984 : Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1985 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1986 : AS Real (Bamako)
* 1987 : Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1988 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1989 : Stade Malien(Bamako)

* 1990 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1991 : AS Real (Bamako)
* 1992 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1993 : Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1994 : Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1995 : Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1996 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1997 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1998 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1999 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)

* 2000 : Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 2001 : Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 2002 : Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 2003 : Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 2004 : Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 2005 : Stade Malien (Bamako)


Mali Cup Champions
* 1961 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 3-3 2-1 Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1962 : AS Real (Bamako) 7-1 Sonni AC (Gao)
* 1963 : Stade Malien 6-3 Avenir (Ségou)
* 1964 : AS Real (Bamako) 4-3 Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1965 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 5-1 Kayésienne
* 1966 : AS Real (Bamako) 0-0 2-0 Avenir (Ségou)
* 1967 : AS Real (Bamako) 4-1 US Sevaré
* 1968 : AS Real (Bamako) 1-0 Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1969 : AS Real (Bamako) 8-2 Africa Sports (Gao)

* 1970 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 10-0 Kayésienne
* 1971 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 4-0 Jeunesse Sportive (Ségou)
* 1972 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 5-1 Avenir (Ségou)
* 1973 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 1-1 1-0 AS Real (Bamako)
* 1974 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 2-0 Cercle Olympique (Bamako)
* 1975 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 1-1 1-0 Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1976 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 0-0 3-0 Avenir (Ségou)
* 1977 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 6-1 Tibo Club (Mopti)
* 1978 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 1-1 2-1 AS Real (Bamako)
* 1979 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 3-1 Stade Malien (Bamako)

* 1980 : AS Real (Bamako) 1-0 Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1981 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 1-0 AS Real (Bamako)
* 1982 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 4-2 AS Biton (Ségou)
* 1983 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 1-0 Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1984 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 3-1 Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1985 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 4-2 Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1986 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 1-1 2-1 Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1987 : AS Sigui (Kayès) 2-1 AS Real (Bamako)
* 1988 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 3-1 Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1989 : AS Real (Bamako) 2-0 Djoliba AC (Bamako)

* 1990 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 1-0 Djoliba AC (Bamako)
* 1991 : AS Real(Bamako) 2-1 AS Mandé (Bamako)
* 1992 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 1-1 1-0 AS Real (Bamako)
* 1993 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 4-0 USFAS Bamako
* 1994 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 2-0 (a.p.) AS Nianan (Koulikoro)
* 1995 : USFAS Bamako 2-0 Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1996 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 2-1 AS Real (Bamako)
* 1997 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 2-1 AS Real (Bamako)
* 1998 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 1-0 (a.p.) Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 1999 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 1-0 AS Nianan (Koulikoro)

* 2000 : Cercle Olympique (Bamako) 1-0 Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 2001 : Stade Malien (Bamako) 5-0 Mamahira AC (Kati)
* 2002 : Cercle Olympique (Bamako) 2-1 Stade Malien (Bamako)
* 2003 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 2-1 (a.p.) Tata National (Sikasso)
* 2004 : Djoliba AC (Bamako) 2-0 AS Nianan (Koulikoro)
* 2005 : AS Bamako 1-1 (5 t.a.b. à 4) Djoliba AC (Bamako)

[ELLADA]

Impress the locals? Make sure you can speak French en premier.

If you will be attending matches in the summer, je te conseille d'avoir un éventail. (part of your French lesson)



I will help out here as well.. some famous footballers:

A little reminder.. Mali finished 3rd at the 1999 World Youth Cup.


Mohamed Sissoko - Liverpool
Djimi Traoré - Liverpool
Mahamadou Diarra - Olympique Lyon (for how long??)
Mamadou Diallo - Nantes
Fredi Kanouté - Sevilla

feel free to add...

The Future Captain of Liverpool

[sirmax858]

is kanoute from mali?

[ELLADA]

Well, Kanouté is born in France, but his parents, I assume, were born in Mali. If not are of Malian descent. His decision to represent Mali instead of France was highly publicized. It was leading up to the CAN in 2004 and that decision did not make him very popular at Tottenham, to say the least. But he wound up top scorer of the tournament and Mali made it to the semis.

[indomitable_lion]

Did anybody see Mali vs. Italy in the quarter finals of the Athens Olympics in 2004? That's the game were Sissoko missed a penalty and the Italians stole it in extra time.

It was the first time I saw him play and I was really impressed...........until he missed the penalty. He was really an attacking midfielder in that game. A lot more that Gerrard is for Liverpool. I wish he would show that side more often.


On another note, I just got this new CD called Sinkan by Sekouba Bambino of Bebeya Jazz. It's actually from 2002 but it's new to me and I love it. A FLAC seed may be in order if there is demand. I also heard Super Rail Band recently and I wasn't that impressed but their guitarist is awesome.

[Dirtycheat]

why is is that mali make such good holding mifielders

first diarra and now sissoko.

also is the other diarra(lassana) of chelseas, frommail too?

[ZeekLTK]

Mali will face Morocco on May 28 in Bamako (a friendly). These teams played two years ago on that day (May 28, 2004) to a 0-0 draw.

Mali has actually played Morocco several times recently. Besides that 0-0 draw, Morocco won 4-0 on Febuary 11, 2004 in the African Cup of Nations. Prior to that, the teams played twice in November 2003 (on consecutive days, the 18th and 19th). The first match, on the 18th, was a 1-1 draw and the "replay" (if that's what it was, I have no idea why they played twice, both games are listed as friendlies) the following day was won by Mali, 1-0. Mali also beat Morocco 3-1 on November 20, 2002 and tied 1-1 on December 14, 2001.

The draw for the ANC '08 (in Ghana) qualifying format has been set up as well. Mali are in a group with Togo, Benin, and Sierra Leone. The schedule is:

September 4, 2006: Sierra Leone - Mali
October 10, 2006: Mali - Togo
March 24, 2007: Mali - Benin
June 2, 2007: Benin - Mali
June 16, 2007: Mali - Sierra Leone
September 8, 2007: Togo - Mali