Mali: Emile Doucouré, Adama Camara…who are the new faces with the Aigles?

Adama Camara – Right Back (Paris FC)

Born in Bondy, Adama Camara has been performing very well for three years now with Paris FC. He experienced Ligue 2 with the club from the French capital and is playing his second consecutive season with PFC in Ligue 1. Despite the coaching change with the arrival of Liam Rosenior this summer, he has remained the starting right back for the Parisians, thanks to his toughness and his ability to stay focused throughout an entire match.

At 29 years old, he is arriving late to the national team, but should be a valuable addition for the Eagles of Mali, especially since Hamari Traoré (34), has been plagued by physical problems in recent years, even if the latter is present for this international break, but has to settle for a substitute role at club, blocked precisely by the competition brought by Adama Camara.

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Mali is gaining a defender who has posted impressive stats (SofaScore) at the start of this campaign: 1.3 interceptions per match, 3.3 tackles, 4 balls recovered, and 3 clearances on average per game. Not to mention his 63% duels won, all with only 0.3 fouls per match. Moreover, he has yet to receive a single yellow card this season (only 8 in 32 matches last season), proof of his discipline.

Alimamy Gory – Left Winger (Abha FC, Saudi Arabia)

At 30 years old, he also did not quickly choose to play for Mali, but Alimamy Gory can bring all his experience to the Eagles thanks to his versatility, since he is able to play as a center forward or on the right. After coming through Le Havre, which is also his birthplace, he was still playing for Paris FC last season (5 goals and 2 assists in 25 matches) before signing with Abha FC (1 goal in 5 matches) in the Saudi Pro League this summer. With Gory, Mali has a new attacking reinforcement to give the indispensable Lassine Sinayoko a break.

Ange Martial Tia – Midfielder (Reims)

He is a product of Malian training. An attacking midfielder, Ange Martial Tia, only 19 years old, is also capable of playing as a striker in a more advanced role, thanks to his ability to make decisive plays. He is doing that very well at the start of this season with Stade de Reims in Ligue 2 (one goal and one assist in 5 matches).

The Africa Football Elite product who was named “Gem of the Month” for August is therefore rewarded for his excellent start to the season with Reims. After playing with the U17 and U23 national teams, Ange Martial Tia is already making the big leap to the senior team before his 20th birthday (November 20). And it is well deserved.

Emile Doucouré – Goalkeeper (KRC Genk)

This is one of Anthony Da Silva’s most strategic recruitments for the start of his term. With Emile Doucouré, Mali is preparing for its future in goal, while Djigui Diarra (31), who has often delivered good performances, is nearing the end, even though he still has a few years left.

Born in Antwerp to a Malian father and a Belgian mother, Emile Doucouré made the brave decision not to turn back after playing for Mali’s U23 team in 2025 and to make his way up to the senior team. Which is no small feat for a goalkeeper who is only 18 years old and who has played with Belgium’s youth teams up to the U19 level.

This step up is a sporting as well as a strategic choice to show Doucouré how much Mali counts on him for the future. This season, he is the starting goalkeeper for KRC Genk in the Challenger Pro League (Belgian second division) and has kept 1 clean sheet in 4 matches with an average of 3.0 saves per match, a 57% save rate on shots faced (SofaScore).