Barcelona's Seydou Keita: The road is now rougher for Mali at the 2012 Afcon

The Eagles are through to the quarter-finals of the 2012 Afcon after humbling the Zebras 2-1 on Wednesday, but the Barcelona midfielder tells Goal.com that tough times lay ahead

A 2-1 victory over Group D's bottom side Botswana was enough to see Mali progress to the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mogakolodi Ngele gave Stanley Tshosane’s side the lead before Garra Dembele and Seydou Keita scored vital goals to put their team into the quarter-finals. The Barcelona player spoke toGoal.com after the game, and was open about his role in the Malian national team with respect to the criticism he has received of late.Goal.com: Personally. how do you judge the standard of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations considering the absence of top teams like Cameroon, Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa?

Seydou Keita: It’s okay. It’s competitive. There have been surprises like the unexpected early elimination of Senegal and the exploits of Equatorial Guinea. Don’t listen to those who say this edition is low because those teams didn’t qualify. If they didn’t come that means they are not strong enough to be here this time. Look, the competition starts from the qualifiers and this is the final phase. So those teams began the race but were outrun.

Goal.com: You once left the Mali team and later came back. What’s your new mission?

Keita: That’s what you are seeing. We helped the team to get here and we are pushing on.Goal.com: But you have been personally criticised back in Mali and beyond for not doing enough during your side’s first two games, especially against Ghana. A Bamako-based journalist even said, I quote: ‘Seydou Keita was transparent in the Ghana-Mali match. We can’t tell what is happening to him in the competition.’ What’s happening to you?

Keita: (Laughs) Nothing. I’m doing my best. I’m organising, inspiring and pushing the team. Those critics seem not to know the role I play in a match, even with Barcelona.

Goal.com: Tell them.                                           

Keita: (Laugh) I balance constructions in the midfield, which means monitoring the flow of passes from the back and forth and vice versa while watching and checking the counter movement of balls across the same routes from the adversary team. I know they want to see me score goals like today, but it’s about team work and what matters is victory.

Goal.com: You have qualified for the quarter-finals and you will meet Gabon next. What are you guys planning to do against the host team?

Keita: We are planning to play against them, but I must confess to you that it’s going to be a tough match. Gabon will be playing at home before some 40,000 supporters. They defeated two top favourites of the tournament – Morocco and Tunisia – to lead their group. We will surely be playing like we’ve got nothing to lose. I think that should be the best option for now to ease the tension and pressure on us because the road is now rougher.

Goal.com: The tournament will end in 11 days and you will head for Camp Nou, do you plan to stay or leave during the transfer window or sometime before the end of your renewed contract of 2014?

Keita: I can’t really tell for now. I love Barca. It’s my home. I made my football there.

Goal.com: Like many others too, but they left after that, will you?

Keita: I’d have loved to give you an answer if I had one.

Barcelona's Javier Mascherano: Valencia Copa del Rey tie is in our hands

The Argentine midfielder was quite satisfied with the Blaugranas' performance, and feels they have everything in their own hands, despite drawing the game at Mestalla

Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano feels that Wednesday's 1-1 away draw against Valencia in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final was a good result going into the second leg of the tie.

Jonas gifted Valencia the lead in the 27th minute before Carles Puyol restored parity shortly after. Lionel Messi then missed a spot kick after the break, but Mascherano still feels that Barcelona have everything in their own hands.

"It’s a good result but it could have been better seeing how the game played out. We played against a great rival and we had good chances. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t go in," Mascherano was quoted as saying on the Barcelona website.

"The important thing is that we played a good match and we created scoring chances. The tie is in our hands and that’s the most important thing. It depends exclusively on us."

Mascherano then discussed the Catalans' relatively disappointing run of form, and stressed that they will have to keep on working hard in order to get back to their best.

"I don’t like to talk about good luck or bad luck. A lot of teams go through these phases. We have to keep working and give the best of ourselves. That's the best way to change things."

Barcelona's next match is the league game at home versus Real Sociedad at the weekend.

Cech believes Chelsea out of title race

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has admitted that his side's chances of winning the Premier League title are slim and they would be better concentrating on finishing in the top four, Sky Sports reports. The Blues were held to a 1-1 draw with Swansea and left themselves seven points behind London rivals Tottenham in third.

Andre Villas-Boas' side are also 12 points behind Manchester City and Manchester United after the draw at the Liberty Stadium and the Czech international concedes that their title dreams may be finished for another season. The 29 year old has won three Premier League titles with the Blues since his 2004 switch from Rennes and has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. Cech believes they have a realistic chance of making third place, but will have to beat Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Cech said: 'We don't even have to mention the word 'title' because the Manchester clubs will not drop many points. That's the reality. I still think it is realistic to target the third sport, though. For that we will need to succeed in Sunday's tough match (against Manchester United).'

The 29 year old had been linked with a move away from the club in January's transfer window, but is expected to stay at the club even with interest in the summer. Cech believes that Tuesday's game at the Liberty Stadium was a deserved draw and the Blues have no qualms with only picking up a point from a tough Swansea side.

Egyptian football match Violent clashes

Riots break out after soccer game in Port Said, Egypt

An incident that one player described as "a war, not football" At least 73 people killed, 1000 injured as riots break out after soccer game in Port Said, Egypt. "It is the biggest disaster in Egypt's soccer history," the country's deputy health minister told state television. Violence at football matches across north Africa has increased significantly since political unrest sweeping across the region began more than a year ago. Wednesday's trouble flared at the end of a match when Port Said team Al-Masry beat Al Ahly, one of Egypt's most successful clubs, 3-1. Live television footage showed fans running onto the field and chasing Al Ahly's players. A small group of riot police formed a corridor to try to protect the players, but they appeared overwhelmed and fans were still able to kick and punch the players as they fled. "This is not football. This is a war and people are dying in front of us. There is no movement and no security and no ambulances," Al Ahly player Mohamed Aboutrika told his club's television channel.

FIFA to consider allowing 4th sub in extra time

FIFA will discuss the possibility of allowing teams to use a fourth substitute in extra time when its rules-making panel meets next month. The International Football Association Board is set to decide at a meeting in England on March 3 if increasing the current quota of three replacements would help improve matches and reduce injuries. "The FIFA Task Force Football 2014, the medical committee and the football committee support the proposal in order to maintain the technical level until the 120th minute and to protect the health of the players," FIFA said Wednesday. Goal-line technology tests will return to the agenda of the rules panel, which is known as IFAB. The panel will receive progress reports on tests involving eight systems, and decide which will proceed to a scheduled second round of testing starting in March. FIFA said a final decision to approve goal-line technology can be taken at a further IFAB meeting on July 2. It could take place in Kiev, the day after the 2012 European Championship final in the Ukraine capital. IFAB will also consider trials of the five-referee system, using additional assistants beside each goal to support referees  decision-making, which conclude at Euro 2012. The panel will also reconsider allowing Islamic female players to wear a hijab, five years after the headscarf was banned for safety reasons. FIFA vice president Prince Ali of Jordan also urged IFAB to respect cultural traditions and approve a headscarf held in place by a safe Velcro fastener. IFAB, which is comprised of the four British associations plus FIFA delegates, will also consider amending the so-called "triple punishment" of sanctioning certain fouls with a penalty kick, red card and suspension. Other proposals on the agenda include assessing tests at the 2011 Copa America where referees used vanishing spray on the grass to mark the 10 yards (9 meters) that defensive walls must retreat from the ball once placed for a free kick. Rules are amended with six of the eight available votes. Each British association  from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales  has one vote and FIFA officials have four. Changes typically take effect on July 1 ahead of the following season, but can be fast-tracked for a major tournament if the panel agrees.

United join beaten City at Premier League summit

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson did his old club a huge favour by scoring the winner for Everton in a 1-0 victory over Premier League leaders Manchester City, while United moved level on points at the top after beating Stoke City 2-0. Ireland midfielder Gibson left United to move to Goodison Park earlier this month and his fierce strike on the hour, which took a slight deflection, proved decisive. United, who trail their rivals on goal difference, eased past Stoke thanks to two penalties at Old Trafford from Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov. City and United have 54 points from 23 matches, five ahead of Tottenham Hotspur who thumped Wigan Athletic 3-1 at White Hart Lane. Dejected City manager Roberto Mancini said he had underestimated mid-table Everton. “Probably, probably, probably,” the Italian said in an interview with Sky Sports after he was asked if he had taken Everton too lightly. “Maybe it’s my fault because I prepared, maybe, bad for this game … It is very important that we win our next game against Fulham.” The leaders enjoyed plenty of possession but created few openings to trouble a resolute home defence. Everton, who paraded new signing Nikica Jelavic at halftime after the Croatia striker’s move from Rangers, almost broke through early on but Joleon Lescott was well positioned on the goalline to clear Denis Stracqualursi’s close-range header. City went closest to an equaliser when midfielder Samir Nasri rattled the crossbar with a swerving 30-metre piledriver on 36 minutes. The match was halted for around four minutes late in the first half when a fan went on to the pitch and handcuffed himself to a goalpost. Police freed the man who had attached himself to the post in the goal that City were defending. 

NO MISTAKE

United had no problems overcoming Stoke despite handing a first league start to goalkeeper Ben Amos, called up due to David de Gea being ill and Anders Lindegaard injured. With Wayne Rooney still out with an ankle injury, Ferguson partnered Berbatov alongside Javier Hernandez up front and both made no mistake from the spot. Mexico striker Hernandez fired home on 38 minutes after Jermaine Pennant had felled Park Ji-sung. United were awarded a second penalty eight minutes after halftime and this time Berbatov scored after Antonio Valencia was brought down. Spurs cemented third place after Gareth Bale scored twice against bottom side Wigan. Bale’s eighth and ninth league goals of the campaign came either side of a Luca Modric goal. Substitute James McArthur got a late consolation for Wigan. A stoppage-time own goal by Neil Taylor rescued a point for fourth-placed Chelsea, on 42 points, who escaped from Swansea City’s Liberty stadium with a 1-1 draw. Things looked bad for Andre Villas-Boas’s side who trailed to a first-half goal from their former player Scott Sinclair and had defender Ashley Cole sent off with four minutes remaining. But Portugal defender Jose Bosingwa then got lucky in the fourth minute of added time when his shot took a big deflection off Taylor to beat keeper Michel Vorm. Sinclair’s goal was the first Chelsea have conceded in five games in all competitions. Liverpool striker Andy Carroll ended his goal drought to help fire the Anfield side up one place to fifth, above inactive Arsenal, after a 3-0 victory at struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers who remain in the bottom three. Carroll, who has failed to impress since his big-money move a year ago, broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half with his first goal in 12 league games before Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt rewarded Liverpool’s dominance. Arsenal are away at Bolton on Wednesday.