Malian football mourns Kalilou Traoré, 2013 AFCON bronze medalist, dead at 38
via SeneNews1 min read
Malian football is in mourning following the death of Kalilou Traoré, affectionately known as "Kati Kalou" by his fans. The former international player and bronze medalist at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations passed away at the age of 38 due to a road accident in Paris. Born on September 9, 1987, in Kati, Kalilou Traoré began his professional career with Real Bamako before moving to Morocco to play for Wydad Casablanca in 2006, with a loan spell at Hassania Agadir. His career then took him to Europe, first to NK Istra 1961 in Croatia, then to OB Odense in Denmark, before joining FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in France in 2012, where he concluded his playing career. Traoré earned 17 caps for the Mali Eagles between 2010 and 2013, scoring his only international goal in a qualifying match against Botswana. He was a key member of the Malian generation that made history by winning the bronze medal at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, an achievement that remains one of Mali's best continental results.
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