Mali striker Adama Niané has been expelled from the Afcon squad following an act of gross indiscipline.

The Belgium-based forward is reported to have slapped his captain, Abdoulaye Diaby during a heated confrontation in the camp.

The Malian FA then took measures and sent the 26-year-old home, leaving the team to continue the tournament with 22 players.

Niané becomes the fifth player to be dismissed from camp at the tournament after Egypt’s Amr Warda, Selemani Yamini Ndikumana (Burundi), Abdelaziz Hamdallah (Morocco) and Harid Belkebla (Algeria).

Meanwhile, Mali face Tunisia this afternoon in their second game of Group E.