By James Copnall BBC West African football correspondent

Olympic pick Mamadou Diallo heads the Champions League scoring charts

Mali have named an inexperienced 23-man squad for the country's first participation in the Olympics next month.

The likes of Frederic Kanoute, Mahamadou Diarra and Seydou Keita were expected to be selected as the over-age players allowed for the under-23 tournament.

However, the Malian Football Federation (FMF) proved unable to persuade any of its star names to play in the Olympics, which clashes with the start of the European club season.

Instead, coach Cheik Oumar Kone has only named goalkeeper Fousseyni Tangara as an over-age player.

Although Tangara is the current senior national team keeper, he plays his football in the French lower leagues with FC Mantois.

There is no doubt about the squad's star player though.

Mohamed Lamine Sissoko played in the Cup of Nations in Tunisia for the Eagles, and won a Spanish league and Uefa Cup double last season with his club Valencia.

The teenager will be expected to boss the midfield for Mali in Athens.

Other than the Valencia player, coach Kone has largely kept faith with the youngsters who qualified ahead of Cameroon yet there are two notable omissions.

The absence of the 'enfant terrible' of Malian football, Abdul Karim Traore, is no surprise as the playmaker is banned from all football for a year after hitting a referee in a Malian league game.

The fact that left winger Aboubacar Guindo has not been selected is more surprising as the France-based youngster was a key figure in qualifying.

Of the eight foreign-based players selected, five play in Europe.

Traore is Mali's new star

Dramane Traore will be a familiar name to some, especially after the splendid header he scored for the Eagles in their Tunisia 2004 draw with Senegal.

Traore was also voted the best player in the African Champions League last season as he spearheaded Egyptian giants Ismailia's drive to the final.

Traore may form a productive partnership with another striker with senior national team experience.

Janvier Abouta, one of five Djoliba AC players in the 23, scored a memorable volleyed goal against Nigeria in the third/fourth place play-off match in Tunisia.

Diallo tops scoring charts

Furthermore, the Malians can expect to see Mamadou Diallo, who leads the scoring charts in the African Champions League with eight, put opposition goalkeepers to the test.

Nonetheless, the Mali squad looks inexperienced compared to some of the other formations heading to Athens even if Malian football has built its recent good reputation on the development of young talents.

Mali are in group A with Greece, Korea and Mexico.

Squad:

Goalkeepers:
Fousseyni Tangara (FC Mantois, France), Cheick Oumar Bathily (Djoliba AC), Souma�la Diakite (Stade Malien)

Defenders:
Moussa Coulibaly, Boubacar Sidiki Kone (both AS Bamako), Abdou Traore, Drissa Diakite, Adama Tamboura (all Djoliba AC), Boucader Djidani Diallo (Stade Malien)

Midfielders:
Jimmy Boubou Kebe (Lens, France), Mohamed Lamine Sissoko (Valencia, Spain), Mamadou Diallo (USMA, Algeria), Abdoulaye Diawara (St-Truiden, Belgium), Mamadi Berthe (Sedan, France), Alain Claude Traore (Stade Malien), Oumar Andre Traore (Nianan Koulikoro), Mohamoud Fall (AS Bamako)

Forwards:
Dramane Traore (Ismaili, Egypt), Tenema N'Diaye (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia), Janvier Sedonoude Abouta (Djoliba AC), Rafan Sidibe (Stade Malien), Mintou Doucoure (Centre Salif Ke�ta)