Ibrahima Cissé named in Team of the Tournament at the U23 AFCON

The 22-year-old was involved in all five of Mali’s games in Morocco and played the full 90 minutes in four of them, having come off in the closing stages of their semi-final.

Cissé made a crucial block in the final few minutes against Guinea in the third-place match, ensuring that the game went to extra time. Mali then won 4-3 on penalties. “We’re really proud that Ibra played every game and won a bronze medal,” said sporting director André Hechelmann.

Knäbel in Morocco, Reis in Hungary

Peter Knäbel, board member for sport, travelled out to Africa to follow the 22-year-old’s progress. “Our aim is to make sure the players know they are valued and to support them as much as we can at big events like this. The word ‘together’ plays a big role at Schalke, it’s part of our DNA,” said Hechelmann on Knäbel’s trip to Morocco. “Thomas Reis was also recently in Hungary to watch Assan Ouédraogo and Taylan Bulut in the final of the U17 European Championship.”

Cissé will return to Schalke training soon and will agree an exact date with Hechelmann. “We now have the feeling that Ibra is producing what he couldn’t in his first year here,” added the sporting director, who watched all five of Cissé’s game at the tournament on a live stream. “We hope he can continue this excellent progress with us. We have lots of faith in his ability.”