The 27-year-old participated in only two matches during the competition. Mali won 2-0 against South Africa in Group E, but was eliminated by the host nation after a 2-1 defeat, during which he was subbed in. According to *FourFourTwo*, Chelle told reporters, “You know Yves and Moussa [Diarra] were suffering from malaria, regarding the blood tests. It’s not so serious, because someone born in west Africa is used to malaria, he could play but for Moussa it was different.
It was the first time he contracted malaria, so he started some light training. We’ll take things carefully, but there’s no outbreak or anything.” After forward Nene Dorgeles scored for Mali in the 71st minute of their quarter-final, substitute Simon Adingra’s late goal for the Ivory Coast sent the game to extra time. Oumar Diakite, also a substitute, then scored in the dying moments of extra time to secure a dramatic turnaround.