World News – UA – Overview of Africa: D-Day looms in a standoff against Adama Traoré

D-day looms in the standoff between Mali and Spain for the services of wolf winger adama Traoré

Born in Barcelona to West African parents, he was called up by Spain for one friendly and two UEFA Nations League matches and by Mali for two friendlies

« It’s up to the player to decide I’ve spoken to him and he wants to play for us, » said Spain manager Luis Enrique

Here, AFP Sport takes the rounds of the African team ahead of an international window from October 5 to 13, which is used to prepare for the Nations Cup qualifiers next month:

Adama Traoré is not the only English Premier League star Mali want with Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure also chosen by coach Mohamed Magassouba

But Doucoure could turn down the invitation to face Ghana and Iran in Turkey as he aspires to be called up from France, where he was born to Malian parents

Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma and Southampton striker Moussa Djenepo are other Premier League footballers in the squad

Madrid-born Sevilla forward Munir el Haddadi saw his wish to play for Morocco granted thanks to a change in FIFA rules governing international eligibility

After being capped once by Spain six years ago as a teenager, he can now play for the nation where his parents were born

Morocco have lined up matches against other top 10-ranked teams from Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo behind closed doors in Rabat due to the coronavirus pandemic

The withdrawal of star Sadio Mane from the Senegalese squad for friendlies with Morocco and Mauritania after testing positive for Covid-19 was followed by two more withdrawals

Montreal Impact goalkeeper Clement Diop and Olympiakos defenseman Ousseynou Ba are injured and coach Aliou Cissé will not replace them in the squad reduced to 23 players

Senegal visit Morocco and host Mauritania as they prepare for two Nations Cup qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau next month

Aston Villa’s new recruit, Bertrand Traoré and his older brother, Alain, are in the Burkina Faso squad for the preparation matches against DR Congo and Madagascar in Morocco

Alain Traoré plays for Renaissance Berkane, one of the three contenders for the title of Moroccan champion and semi-finalist of the CAF Confederation Cup

Three other independent Traores – midfielder Abdou Razack, winger Eric and striker Lassina – have also been chosen by coach Kamou Malo

The three DR Congo goalkeepers from the team chosen by coach Christian Nsengi-Biembe for the friendlies against Burkina Faso and Morocco are based in Switzerland

Joel Kiassumbua plays for Servette and Timothy Fayulu for Sion in the upper tier and Anthony Mossi for relegated Neuchatel Xamax

Two English Premier League players have been chosen – West Ham midfielder Arthur Masuaku and Fulham striker Neeskens Kebano

Two uncapped South Africans based in Europe – defender Thibang Phete and striker Kurt Abrahams – have been selected for friendlies against Namibia and Zambia in Rustenburg

Phete is with Belenenses in Portugal and Abrahams with Westerlo in Belgium and they are among six foreign players in a squad of 25

A surprise omission is SuperSport United’s Bradley Grobler, South Africa’s most prolific goalscorer of recently concluded Premiership season

Brazilian coach Valdo Filho doesn’t judge a player by what level he plays, picking five Congolese from French and Spanish clubs in third and fourth place for a friendly with Gambia

Defender Hugo Konongo and midfielder Durel Avounou play in the French third division and goalkeeper Will Cesaire Matimbou in fourth

Adama Traoré, Spain national football team, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, UEFA Nations League, Mali, Premier League