Bamako: The Malian footballer Salif Keita, who was awarded the first African Footballer of the Year title in 1970 and is considered one of the continent’s sporting icons, passed away in Bamako on Saturday at the age of 76, as announced by the country’s football federation.
Keita had a distinguished career in France, playing for St Etienne and Olympique de Marseille, as well as for Valencia in Spain and Sporting Lisbon, before concluding his career in the North American Soccer League.
He made his debut for Mali at the age of 16 and later helped the team reach the final of the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations. From 2005 to 2009, Keita served as the president of the Mali Football Federation.
In the meantime, Dr Patrice Motsepe, on behalf of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has expressed his condolences to Keita’s family, the Fédération Malienne de Football, his friends, and colleagues.
In 1972, Salif Keita was a member of the National Team of Mali, which finished as the runner-up in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
Leave a comment