Mali captain Seydou
Keita on Monday hit
back at those who
say his side will face
an uphill battle
against Nigeria on Wednesday
in the semi-finals because the
Super Eagles coach Stephen
Keshi has a good knowledge of
the team having managed it
for two years.
The former Barcelona midfielder
said the outfit had changed
since the Nigerian coach left in
the wake of their debacle at the
Angola 2010, and may have lost
all the secrets of the team.
"People keep saying that Nigeria
will beat us on Wednesday
because their coach Stephen
Keshi knows the in and out of
Mali team having coached us in
the past, but that is not true,"
Keita said.
"We've had three coaches after
Keshi's departure and that
should tell you a lot of
transformation has taken place.
Keshi, with all the respect I have
for him, will meet a different
team on Wednesday and not
what he left behind. So tell him
we have changed."
The Malian Eagles finished third
at the 2012 edition under
French coach Alain Giresse, and
brought their peculiarity of
knocking out host nations to the
ongoing tournament where they
defeated South Africa on
penalties like they did to Gabon
last year.
The 33-year-old, who now plays
for Chinese side Dalian Aerbin,
believes they could have an edge
if Wednesday's clash runs into
penalties.

ok na, notin spoil