Mali coach Alain Giresse pays tribute to team leader Seydou Keita

By Peter Auf der Heyde Feb 7, 2012, 14:38 GMT

Libreville, Gabon - Mali coach Alain Giresse on Tuesday paid a tribute to influential midfielder Seydou Keita in the run-up to their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final with favourites Ivory Coast.

The Barcelona player scored Mali's final spot kick in the Eagles' 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory against co-hosts Gabon in the quarter-finals.

Giresse said that even though Keita is not the captain of the side, he is still the leader.

'His involvement is the same as with Barcelona. He is willing to defend and he is here as a leader,' the former French international said.

'This even means that he at times goes beyond what is his nature. He is very heavily involved and for a coach it is important that you have players like him, who behave as true leaders in all respects.'

Giresse, who took over Mali in 2010, said he supported Keita's impassioned plea for peace in northern Mali that the player made at the official press conference after the win against Gabon.

'As a coach, you have to be very aware of what your players feel and when Seydou spoke about the problems facing Mali, he was doing this for the whole team.

'I think he was right in doing what he did and it would be wonderful if football teams could change things, but as they can't, it is right that they call on those who can change.'

Mali will be playing their fourth semi-finals on Wednesday in Libreville and hope to go to the final for the first time.

'By reaching the quarter-finals we have already achieved our initial goal. But now, of course, we would like to go further. If we did not attempt that, we would regret it very much later,' said Giresse.

'If we went into the game believing that Ivory Coast is simply too strong for us, we would have no chance, so we must not lose sight that our game against them could lead to more.

'I do not regard this match as a bonus. I see it as the possibility of something great.'

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