Mali national football team received disappointing news  before the friendly international game against Iran.

According to ISNA and quoting the malijet site, the national football team of Mali and Iran should play in a friendly match.

Prior to this match, the Mali coach hoped to improve the quality of his team by inviting two valuable English Premier League players. Former Barcelona player Adama Traore, who plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers, and new Everton star Abdullah Ducoure, who were called up to the Mali national football team for the first time, both players declined the Mali national team invitation and will not play against Iran.

Traore, who was also invited to the Spanish national football team by Enrique, decided to accept the Spanish invitation and play for this team. Ducoure also chose the French national football team and declined to accept his homeland football team. This was not the only bad news for Mali before the game against Iran. Hoffenheim striker Samasco also suffered an injury and is out of the squad and will miss the match against Iran in Antalya, Turkey.

The Iranian national football team, which appointed Dragan Skocic as head coach several months ago, will now play for the first time under the guidance of the Croatian coach.