GILLINGHAM are heading for another showdown with Mali’s football authorities over striker Mamady Sidibe.

The club had sought the player’s early release immediately after last Friday’s World Cup preliminary round, second leg qualifier with Guinea-Bissau to have him back in good time for Saturday’s match at Coventry.

Since then it has emerged that Sidibe was not involved in the tie, which Mali won 2-0, and may have sat out Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Morocco.

Gillingham have clashed in the past with Mali manager Henri Stambouli over releasing Sidibe and agreed only, with the greatest reluctance, to release him a week ago because he was so keen not to be excluded from January’s vital African Nations Cup qualifiers.

Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler said: “We’re waiting to get the full story from Mamady.”

Hessenthaler will be livid if Sidibe is not back in time to join the squad leaving for Coventry tomorrow (Friday).

The striker showed signs of his best in the 4-3 win at Ipswich at the start of the month and Hessenthaler is keen to tap into his resurgent form.