Faced with injuries to two key players Max Gradel and Crystal Palace frontman Wilfried Zaha, Ivory Coast coach Marc Wilmots fell back on Bony Wilfried and Kodjia Jonathan of Aston Villa as well as Gbamin Jean Philippe, who are all returning to the Elephants after months of absence.
Ivory Coast will lock horns with Mali for the fifth and penultimate matchday of the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in Bamako on October 6.
Leaders of Group C with 7 points, the Ivorians suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Gabon early this month and now need a win against the Eagles, who are on 2 points, to maintain their one point lead at the summit.
Second-placed Morocco will host Gabon, who sit third in the group with 5 points. Any of the four teams can still qualify to the tournament.
Injured Sporting Lisbon striker Doumbia Seydou figures on the list. He is expected to take a late fitness test ahead of the game.
Goalkeepers: GBOHOUO Sylvain (TP Mazembe, RDC), BLE Zadi Horthalin (Africa Sports, CIV), KACOU Axel (Tours, FRA)
Defenders : GNAGNON Joris (Rennes, France), AURIER Serge (Tottenham, England), KONAN Ghislain (Guimareas, Portugal), TRAORE Adama (Gozepte, Turkey), KONE Lamine (Sunderland, England), KANON Wilfried (ADO Haag, Holland), BAILLY Eric (Manchester United, England)
Midfielders: ASSALE Roger (YB Bern, Switzerland), SEREY Dié (FC Bale, Switzerland), FOFANA Seko (Udinese, Italy) GBAMIN Jean-Philippe (Mainz, Germany), SANOGO Sekou (YB Bern, Switzerland), SERI Jean-Michael (Nice, France), DOUKOURE Cheick (Levante UD, Spain), KESSIE Franck (AC Milan, Italy)
Forwards: BONY Wilfried (Swansea, England), CORNET Maxwell (Lyon, France), DOUMBIA Seydou (Sporting, Portugal), YAO Kouassi Gervais (Hebei, China), KALOU Salomon (Herta Berlin, Germany), KODJIA Jonathan (Aston Villa, England)
