Malian Salif Keita, former glory of African football who played for Saint-Étienne and Olympique de Marseille in the 1970s, died on Saturday at the age of 76, the Malian minister announced to AFP. in charge of sports.
Salif Keita, born in 1946, died in Bamako, said Absou Kassim Ibrahim Fomba. “The Black Panther is gone, taking with it a piece of our club”, also soberly indicated on his account X (ex-Twitter) the ASSE whose emblem Keita had inspired.
Triple champion of France with ASSE
With the Greens, he was champion of France three times (1968, 1969, 1970) and twice winner of the Coupe de France (1968, 1970) before leaving for Marseille in 1972. He then played in Valence (Spain ), at Sporting Portugal before ending his career in the United States, in Boston. He also played in the film “Le Ballon d’Or”, freely inspired by his story.
The ex-attacker had been Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of private initiative in the Malian transitional government (1991-1992). He also led the Malian Football Federation (FEMAFOOT) in the 2000s.