BAMAKO, March 25, 2008 (AFP) - Mali's hopes of achieving a shock result over France'A' in their friendly on Tuesday suffered a severe blow when star striker Frederic Kanoute was ruled out.

The 30-year-old Sevilla star and 2007 African Footballer of the Year is suffering from a heel injury and was unable to travel from Spain to join up with his compatriots.

'Kanoute did not come to Paris because of a heel injury,' Mali manager Sadia Cisse confirmed to AFP from the squad's hotel in Paris.

Mali are using the friendly - to be played at the Charlety Stadium in Paris - as preparation for the beginning of the joint qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup and African Nations Cup.