UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men's soccer defender Mohamed Cisset has been selected to the Mali Men's Olympic Soccer Team roster for the 2024 Olympics in France, the Malian Football Federation announced Monday morning.
Mali Soccer announced the 18-player squad for the Mali Olympic Team ahead of the Olympic Men's Soccer Tournament. The Olympic Men's Soccer Tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23, with each team allowed three overage players to its roster.
Mali is set to face Israel, Paraguay and Japan in the tournament. Mali will kick off the tournament against Israel in Paris Wednesday, July 24. Mali will then face off against Japan Saturday, July 27 in Bordeaux and Paraguay Tuesday, July 30 in Paris. The top two teams in all four groups will advance to the knockout stages, which will run from Aug. 2-9.
The Mali Men's Olympic Team roster, selected by head coach Badra Alou Diallo, includes Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Boubacar Traoré. Cisset is the only current collegiate athlete on the squad.
"We are all so happy and proud of Momo for being selected as a member of the Mali Olympic soccer team," said Penn State head coach Jeff Cook. "To represent your country at the Olympics is the highest honor to achieve. We are delighted that Momo has earned this honor. We are looking forward to cheering him on and following his progress this summer."
This will be Mali's second appearance in the tournament with its first ever appearance being 20-years ago at the Olympic Games in Athens, finishing fifth.
Cisset has started in three U-23 friendlies for Mali this year to help the team go 2-0-1. In 2023, Cisset was a force on the backline for the Nittany Lions. The defender started in 14 matches and contributed to eight shutouts.
