Keita will leave after the derby

The staff of Barca loses one of its most important supporting cast for several weeks.

Africa Cup is coming and Barca will be without one of their players, Seydou Keita during a key period of the competition. The African tournament starts on January 21 and ends on February 12th, so if things go well for the selection of Mali, the midfielder will leave after playing the derby against Espanyol on Sunday January 8 and would not return to mid-February.

Alain Giresse, combined coach of Mali, has planned a stage prior to the competition of 11 to 20 January which will be held in Lome (Togo). One day before the start of the stage, the technician will give the final list of 23 players who will try to win the title in Gabon and mainland Equatorial Guinea. It is safe to Barca, whose last game for the club in January will be the match against Espanyol. Around the knockout round of the Copa del Rey in Pamplona is scheduled for January 12, so unless a special permit to mediate part of Mali, Keita will join their compatriots in the January 11 Lomé.

The midfielder will be the leader and the great respect of his selection, after Kanoute decided to put an end to the international stage. Mali is planning a friendly match on January 19 you still no rival ¿, in what will be the last test before beginning official competition. Alain Giresse's debut on January 24 against Guinea. In the same group D are Ghana and Botswana. The quarterfinals are played on 4 and 5 February, while the semifinals are scheduled for day 8 and the final will be played on February 12 in Libreville. (via SPORT)