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Mali raring to go against Guinea in deciding Afcon group match

Xinhua, January 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Veteran skipper Seydou Keita has said the Mali team is well motivated and raring to go when they face Guinea on Wednesday.

The two teams will clash in one of the matches that will decide the other team that qualifies for the last eight from Group D at the on-going 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Equatorial Guinea.

Mali's skipper who is playing in his seventh Africa Cup of Nations Edition said after hard fought 1-1 draws against Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon, they are going all out to try and win the game. "We do not underrate the Guinea team because we know they can be very dangerous, but we have mapped out a plan to handle them," said the Italian based player.

Henry Kasperczak, the Mali coach will also hope that his stars like Adama Tamboura, Bakary Sako, Yacouba Sylla and Drissa Diakite put up a good performance in a match that means a lot to their qualification for the next round.

Mali will have to keep a close eye on Guinea's captain Ibrahima Traore who has proved a kingpin in the team. Traore who plies his trade with Bayer Monchengladbach in the Germany Bundesliga has already scored one goal in the tournament, but played a significant role in all Guinea's two matches.

French based players Abdoul Razzagui Camara, Fode Camara, Mohamed Lamine Yattara and Abdoulaye Cisse are all expected to make the starting team for Coach Michel Dussuyer's Guinea team. Endi