By James Copnall BBC West African football correspondent

Valencia's Lamine Sissoko will be one of Mali's key players in Athens

Mali's maiden appearance at an Olympic football tournament is likely to be a challenging one.

Coach Cheik Oumar Kone has not been able to mould the sort of squad he would like.

In particular, they will be missing national team striker Frederic Kanoute, whom Kone hoped to use as one of the three over-aged players permitted in the under-23 squad.

"He declined the offer to come," said Kone.

"He preferred to give precedence to his club Tottenham, which is understandable considering he has a new manager there and is already committed to our senior team."

Kanoute's absence, coupled with that of several other senior players who also rejected a place on the Olympic team, is a major blow.

National goalkeeper Fousseini Tangara, who features in the French lower leagues, is the only over-aged player picked for the squad

He is one of eight foreign-based players in the squad, with Valencia's Mohammed Lamine Sissoko topping the list.

Mali will be without Frederic Kanoute in Athens

The teenaged midfielder is on his way to becoming a real star, having helped his Spanish club to the league title and the Uefa Cup last season.

He will be expected to bring the class he showed at the 2004 African Cup to the under-23 side in Athens.

Sissoko aside, the Malians look strongest up front.

Dramane Traore and Mohammed Diallo are both North Africa-based players with spectacular goalscoring records in the African Champions League.

Janvier Abouta, meanwhile, was the top scorer in the Malian championship last season, and scored a memorable volleyed goal against Nigeria in the Cup of Nations third-place game in Tunisia.

Mali's defence has significantly less experience however.

Preparation has been difficult, too, with several players - including star man Sissoko - arriving late for the training camp in Italy.

Fortunately, Mali's group, containing Greece, Korea and Mexico, is not the toughest.

Coach Kone is hopeful that his players will be up to the Olympic challenge.

"I have never doubted the ability of my team and, with a little bit of luck and the nation's support, I am sure we are going to achieve good things."