Maiga a surprise pick for Mali for Nations Cup

Metz's Modibo Maiga shoots to score a penalty during their French Ligue 1 soccer match against Paris St Germain at the Saint Symphorien stadium in Metz November 21, 2014. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Metz forward Modibo Maiga has surprisingly been named in Mali's 23-man squad for the African Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea after missing the entire qualification campaign.

The 27-year-old, on loan in Ligue 1 from West Ham United, has not played for his national team in over a year and will not have fond memories of the Nations Cup finals after contracting malaria at the 2012 tournament that was co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.