Nouhoum Kamissoko could be in line for a Mali call-up as early as November after making an impressive first start for Olympique de Marseille in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Troyes.
The 21-year-old midfielder was handed his first professional start by Bruno Genesio, who needed a replacement for Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Kamissoko operated as the holding midfielder and produced one of the most encouraging performances of Marseille’s evening.
Although he was involved in a few rugged challenges, and was replaced in the 73rd minute after being troubled by cramp, Kamissoko made a significant contribution in the centre of the pitch. He won six balls, provided a strong physical presence and showed composure when directing play.
He also played a part in the move that led to Amine Harit opening the scoring. Genesio praised the initiative shown by Kamissoko and fellow young starter Kelyann Bezahaf.
“They were the two who took the most initiative,” Genesio said.
Born in Bamako, Kamissoko began his development with Etoiles du Mande before joining Marseille in 2023. He continued his progress during a loan spell at Chateauroux in 2024-2025, but his first appearance in Marseille’s starting XI marks an important step in his career.
According to journalist Romain Molina, Mali’s new technical staff had already been monitoring Kamissoko before his performance at Troyes. A call-up for the November international gathering could therefore become a realistic possibility if he maintains his level in the coming weeks.
However, no official preliminary squad has been announced and one match alone is not enough to guarantee a place with the Aigles. The midfielder’s chances could nevertheless be helped by the approach of Anthony Da Silva, who showed with his first squad that he was willing to introduce new players at the start of his tenure with Mali.
Kamissoko’s energy and determination to make the most of every opportunity may appeal to the Franco-Portuguese coach. The competition for places in Mali’s midfield will be considerably stronger than it was at Troyes, though, and Kamissoko’s immediate priority remains establishing himself at Marseille.
A potential international selection would be positive news for both the player and Mali, but it could also create an additional challenge for Genesio. Marseille have a small squad, several competitions to play and a number of international players returned from the most recent break carrying physical problems.
For now, Kamissoko’s task is straightforward: make the most of the minutes he receives and prove that his successful first start was not simply the result of circumstances. If he does that, November’s international gathering could become a genuine prospect rather than merely a possibility.