Freddie Kanoute says he has no regrets about switching to Mali

Nor does he regret leaving behind his club Tottenham Hotspur to play for the Eagles at the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

Kanoute was on the score sheet twice as the Malians beat Kenya 3-1 in their opening game at the tournament.

Kanoute is playing for Mali after a Fifa rule change enabled the French-born forward to play for his father's country.

The striker talked of his happiness at the change, as he prepares to play Burkina Faso on Friday.

Mali team profile

"I've no regrets, not a single one," he said.

"I'm sure I've reached a certain level of maturity and so far as this choice goes, I'm happy with it."

He also bears no grudges over not being picked by France at senior level.

"It's not my job to say whether I should have been called up or not.

"They have coaches who do that and I respect what they do.

This is a way of getting back to my roots Freddie Kanoute

"It's not something that's going to make me ill.

"Today, I'm glad that I didn't because otherwise I wouldn't be here with Mali.

"I always try to take something positive out of a 'negative' situation."

He did however feel he had taken a gamble by changing allegiances, with France preparing for the European Championships in Portugal in June and July.

Mali squad selector

"It was a risk because the safe thing to do would have been to stay with my club and continue my season there, particularly as it hadn't been going badly, and to wait and see if I would get a call-up for France to go to Portugal.

"But I chose to do something that was close to my heart and it was an experience I wanted to try.

"I grew up in France but I've always felt myself to be Malian as well. This is a way of getting back to my roots."

After their match against the Harambee Stars, Mali play Senegal in their final Group B game on 2 February.