Albion’s Ousmane Diakite handed Mali call-up and shot at first cap | OneFootball

Albion midfielder Ousmane Diakite has received a senior Mali call-up, giving the 25-year-old a chance to win his first cap.

The midfielder is in the squad for a friendly away to Russia in St Petersburg next Tuesday at the 67,500-capacity Gazprom Arena, home of Zenit. According to ExpressAndStar.com, his Hawthorns contract was extended last week after a 12-month club option was triggered.

Diakite previously represented Mali at under-17 and under-20 level but has yet to feature for the senior side.

His emergence under head coach James Morrison has coincided with an unbeaten run of four Championship matches, lifting Albion two places and four points clear of the drop zone.

Mali have been led by Belgian Tom Saintfiet for two years and reached January’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final, losing 1-0 to Senegal. Diakite was not part of that squad.

Next Tuesday’s fixture is a 6pm kick-off, so he is not due back in England until Wednesday at the earliest and is likely to rejoin training on Thursday, presenting Morrison with a selection call before Good Friday’s home meeting with promotion-chasing Wrexham.

Diakite has recently kept vice-captain Alex Mowatt out of the starting line-up. He joined Albion as a free transfer in 2024 after leaving Austrian Bundesliga side TSV Hartberg.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com