Keita: My country can count on me
With the scores still level after 84 minutes in Port Elizabeth, it was the 33-year-old midfielder who pounced on a mistake by goalkeeper Daouda Kassali to fire his side in front. His goal lifted the Eagles to the top of Group B and served as another reminder why Keita is a hero in his homeland. A worthy successor to his gifted uncle Salif, Keita enjoys star billing in Mali. Player of the tournament at the FIFA U-20 World Cup 1999, he can pride himself on having clinched 17 trophies in his professional career, more than any other footballer in Mali’s history. The majority of those honours came during his time at Barcelona, when the former Marseille, Lorient, Lens and Sevilla player claimed two UEFA Champions League titles (2009 and 2011), three Liga crowns (2009, 2010 and 2011) and a pair of FIFA Club World Cup wins (2009 and 2011). Success on the international stage has so far proved elusive, but Keita feels his side have reason to aim high in South Africa. “We’re ready for this Cup of Nations,” he warned, sharing his optimism with FIFA.com as well as his determination to help Mali record a historic triumph.
FIFA : Already up and running with three points in the 2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Mali owed much of their opening win against Niger to Seydou Keita.
