Express & Star

Boost for Wolves as Nouha Dicko left out of Mali's African Cup of Nations squad

Wolves have today been handed a surprise boost for January and February after striker Nouha Dicko was left out of Mali's squad for the African Cup of Nations.

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Kenny Jackett's side, who are currently eighth in The Championship, will be without fellow hitman Bakary Sako, who was named in the 23-man squad for the tournament which takes place in Equatorial Guinea.

But both players had been in contention for selection for the competition, which runs from January 17-February 8.

That would have seen both miss up to four matches - Blackpool, Charlton and Reading at home and Bolton away.

Wolves will still be affected by the competition, with Sako, having netted seven times from 24 appearances for this season, set to miss potentially all of those matches depending on how far Mali progress in the tournament.

But Dicko, who scored his sixth goal of the season in yesterday's 2-1 home win over Brentford, will now be available during the whole of that period.

Jackett had yesterday spoken of his intention to try to bring in cover should both players have been selected for Mali duty.

He said: "The only plus is that the window's open and we can do something about it."

Both players have been key to Wolves successes so far this season with Jackett's team having taken 26 points from a possible 36 in games in which they have both featured.

Mali squad:

Goalkeepers: Soumaïla Diakité (Esteghlal Khuzestan, Iran), Germain Berthé (Onze Créateurs), N'Tji Michel Samaké (CS Duguwolofila, Mali)

Defenders : Drissa Diakité (Bastia, France), Fousseyni Diawara (Tours, France), Molla Wagué (Udinese, Italy), Ousmane Coulibaly (Platanias, Greece), Adama Tamboura (Randers, Denmark), Idrissa Coulibaly (Hassania Agadir, Morocco), Salif Coulibaly (TP Mazembe, RD Congo), Mohamed Konaté (Renaissance Berkane, Morocco)

Midfielders : Seydou Keïta (AS Rome, Italy), Tongo Hamed Doumbia (Toulouse, France), Yacouba Sylla (Erciyesspor, Turkey), Mamoutou N'Diaye (Zulte Waregem, Belgium), Abdou Traoré (Bordeaux, France), Ibourahima Sidibé (MAS Fès, Morocco), Souleymane Diarra (AS Réal), Idrissa Traoré (Stade Malien), Sigamary Diarra (Valenciennes, France)

Forwards: Cheick Tidiane Diabaté (Bordeaux, France), Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton, Angleterre), Mustapha Yatabaré (Trabzonspor, Turquie), Sambou Yatabaré (Guingamp, France), Abdoulaye Diaby (Mouscron, Belgium), Modibo Maïga (Metz, France)

Reserves: Abdoulay Samake (CO Bamako), Khalifa Traoré (SCO Angers), Idrissa Traoré (Stade Malien), Souleymane Diarra (AS Réal), Mohammed Traoré (El Merreikh), Cheick Fantamady Diarra (Auxerre).

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