Football/ Mali’s loss: Moussa Yeo rejects national team call-up
Despite being molded in Malian football and holding Malian citizenship, Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Moussa Yeo has rejected the chance to play for the Mali national team, leaving coach Tom Saintfiet frustrated.
Saintfiet revealed that the 21-year-old, a product of the Malian academy Guidars FC, stated he was “not interested” in representing Les Aigles, even after a personal appeal from Malian veteran Samba Sow.
This refusal is a significant blow for Mali, which has a history of successfully integrating Ivorian-born talents like Néné Dorgelès and Yves Bissouma.
Yeo, who progressed through Mali’s youth teams before his 2022 move to Salzburg, has now cemented himself as a key starter for the Austrian champions.
His sporting ascent in Europe is clear, but his decision marks a stark departure from his footballing roots and represents a major missed opportunity for the national side.
