World Cup 2026: Mahamadou Doumbia heading towards the Eagles of Mali?

The head coach of Mali, Tom Saintfiet, recently traveled to Belgium where he attended the match between Cercle Bruges and Antwerp (0-0). His goal? To closely supervise Mahamadou Doumbia, the young Malian talent shining this season in the Pro League.

A photo of the Belgian coach with the 20-year-old player quickly circulated on social media, fueling rumors of an upcoming call-up. Seen:

Born in 2004 and a product of the renowned Jean-Marc Guillou Academy in Bamako, Doumbia made his way to Europe in 2022 via Nordsjaelland (Denmark).

After a season in the reserves, he moved to Antwerp in September 2023 and signed his first professional contract in January 2024. Since then, the playmaker has been making his mark in Belgium with his dynamic playing style.

A promising midfielder

Doumbia is a powerful and agile box-to-box midfielder (1.86m), often compared to Yaya Touré for his technical prowess and ability to drive forward.

His performances are already attracting clubs like Arsenal, Everton, and Marseille, while his market value hovers between 10 and 15 million euros.

With fierce competition in midfield, Saintfiet seems determined to prepare for the future. A first call-up as early as March seems more than likely.

Amine Jomni |

Editorfr

African football writer and sports journalist covering football news, stories and insights while sharing his expertise with fans across the continent.