Barcelona star Keita returns to 'Eagles' nest

Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita returned on Saturday to the Mali squad for first time since his self-imposed exile from international football after the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 31-year-old two time Champions League winner was named by coach Alain Giresse in the 24-man squad for the crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with surprise Group A leaders Cap Verde where a win for 'The Eagles' on September 3 would see them leapfrog their opponents.

Keita will be making his 62nd international appearance.

Cap Verde have a total of seven points, while Mali are a point behind after four matches while Zimbabwe are third another two points adrift and Liberia are bottom on four points.

The finals of Africa's premier competition take place in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in January.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Soumbeyla Diakite (Stade Malien Bamako), Almamy Sogoba (AS Real), Cheik Abdoul Kadry Sy (Djoliba AC)

Defenders: Cedric Kante (Panathinaikos/GRE), Adama Tamboura (Metz/FRA), Adama Coulibaly (Auxerre/FRA), Amadou Sidibe (Auxerre/FRA), Drissa Diakite (Nice/FRA), Ousmane Berthe (Jomo Cosmos/RSA), Mohamed Fofana (Toulouse/FRA), Idrissa Coulibaly (Esperance/TUN).

Midfielders: Seydou Keita (Barcelona/ESP), Sidy Kone (Lyon/FRA), Kalilou Traore (OB Odense/DEN), Bakaye Traore (Nancy/FRA), Abdou Traore (Bordeaux/FRA), Samba Sow (Lens/FRA), Sambou Yatabare (Caen/FRA), El Hadj Mahamane Traore (FC Metz/FRA), Souleymane Keita (Sivasspor/TUR)

Forwards: Modibo Maiga (Sochaux/FRA), Cheick Tidiane Diabate (Bordeaux/FRA), Mamadou Samassa (Valenciennes/FRA), Mustapha Yatabare (Guingamp/FRA)