Seydou Keita will lead Mali as captain in the initial leg of the CAN 2013 qualifiers this weekend in Bamako against Botswana. The former FC Barcelona player assumed the role following the refusal of the incumbent, Cédric Kanté, who opted not to accept the invitation from Patrice Carteron, prioritizing commitments to his club FC Sochaux.
The Mali Eagles, who have been under the captaincy of their iconic leader Mahamadou Diarra (Fulham) for the past two years, enter the match as favorites against Botswana. Securing the third position in the last edition, Mali is familiar with Botswana, having shared the same group during CAN 2012 and previously defeating the Zebras 2-1. Botswana coach Stanley Tshosane expresses confidence in his team’s readiness for the journey to Bamako, stating, “I am pleased with our preparation. Although we had some injuries in our squad, everyone has recovered well in time.” Despite the absence of key players Phenyo Mongala and Kekaetswe Moloi, Tshosane acknowledges the opportunity to play with the home advantage in the return match, saying, “Mali is considered the favorite based on its FIFA ranking. However, it’s our responsibility to put up a strong resistance while anticipating the return match on our home turf.”
