Eagles have landed

and will be cautious in their hunt for maximum points in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Rufaro tomorrow.
The Eagles arrived in Zimbabwe yesterday from South Africa where they had been camped this week to aclimatise with weather conditions in the region.
The visitors will train at the match venue this afternoon.

Giresse, who did want to give out much to the media upon arrival, reckoned Zimbabwe were not easy opponents in the first leg, which the Warriors lost 1-0 in Bamako on March 26.
“It’s only reasonable that Zimbabwe will be looking for three points at home. So they will try by all means to win the game but we will do our best.

“We came here for the same cause and we will try as much to play our normal game.
“This is almost the same team that played in Mali and the chances are 50-50,” said Giresse.

But he said their preparations were affected by the absence of four key players who were ruled out by injury ahead of the tie.
Defensive midfielder Sambou Yattabaré (Caen), defenders Adama Coulibaly (Auxerre), Drissa Diakite (Nice) and striker Moustapha Yattabaré (Boulogne sur Mer) have been ruled out by various injuries picked up at the end of the season with their French clubs.

But Ismael Keita (Nantes), Abdoulaye Maiga (USM Alger), Soumbeyla Diakite (Stade Malien), Almamy Sogoba (AS Réal) were called in as replacements. Mali arrived in Johannesburg on Tuesday from Paris for their training camp ahead of the Warriors’ game and the team appeared in high spirits yesterday.

“We had a good preparation. Apart from the four good players we miss due to injury, everything went well and it’s quite a short distance from Johannesburg to Harare.
“We will get enough rest,” said the French coach.

Mali are in second place in Group A, which includes Zimbabwe, Cape Verde and Liberia.
Surprise packages Cape Verde lead the pack with seven points while Mali follow closely on six.

Zimbabwe are a distant third with two points from three games.
“We are on second place and it’s a good position. There is a chance of progressing but we just need to keep focused,” said Giresse.

Mali have a strong squad comprising majority of foreign-based players who ply their trade in the French league but there were no places for Barcelona star Seydou Keita, high profile strikers Garra Dembe and Frederick Kanoute.

“Keita decided to stay away from the team but when he came back we had already organised our squad,” said Giresse.

Mali squad
Goalkeepers:
Oumar Sissoko (Metz), Soumbeyla Diakité (Stage Malian), Almamy Sogoba (ACE Real).
Defenders
Cédric Kanté (Panathinaïkos), Adama Tamboura (Metz), Adama Coulibaly (Auxerre), Tinder Sidibé (Auxerre), Drissa Diakité (Nice), Ousmane Berthé (Jomo Cosmos), Mohamed Fofana (Toulouse), Abdoulaye Maïga (USM Algeria).
Midfielders
Mahamadou Diarra (ACE Monaco), Kalilou Traoré (OB Odense), Bakaye Traoré (ACE Nancy), Abdou Traoré (OGC Nice), Samba Sow (RC Lens), Ismaël Kéita (FC Nantes), Sambou Yatabaré (Caen), El Hadj Mahamane Traoré (FC Metz).
Strikers
Modibo Maïga (Sochaux), Cheick Tidiane Diabaté (Bordeaux), Ténéma N’ Diaye (Metz), Mustapha Yatabaré (US Boulogne). Youssouf Diallo.