Mali calls Sissoko back for AFCON

[Folami David]

Hard-tackling Momo Sissoko is set to make a return to Mali's national team three years after he last played international football after being named on Thursday in a provisional squad for this month's African Nations Cup.
.
Coach Patrice Cateron unveiled a stong line-up of 28 players for pre-tournament preparations, including Mahamadou Diara of Fulham and former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita.
.
Samba Diakite, dropped by Queens Park Rangers for Wednesday's 1-0 Premier League win at Chelsea, is also in the squad which will be cut to 23 next week.
.
Paris St Gerain's Sissoko, who previously played at Liverpool and Juventus, was one of two key players who boycotted the Mali side after a dissappointing 2010 African Nations Cup tournament in Angola and disagreements with federation officials.
.
Seydou Keita was persuaded back to the side in September 2011, going on to play a key role in taking Mali to an unexpected third place at the 2012 Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.