Seydou Keita played a crucial role in securing a victory for Mali against Niger in the first match of Group B in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Following the win, Keita dedicated the victory to the Malian people, acknowledging the challenging times the country was going through. In his words, “I dedicate this victory to all the Malian people. It’s for peace and all the Malian people.”
In the days leading up to the match, Keita expressed his concern for the situation in Mali, emphasizing that football was secondary to the more significant issues the country was facing. He acknowledged the limitations of football in changing the circumstances but highlighted the positive pressure of competing well. He hoped that Mali’s allies, including France and ECOWAS, would bring about a quick resolution to the conflict and restore peace to the region.
