Abdul Kader Keïta

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Personal information
Abdul Kader Keïta
Full name	Abdul Kader Keïta
Date of birth	August 6, 1981 (age 25)
Place of birth	Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Height	184 cm
Nickname	Popito
Playing position	attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	OSC Lille
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-05 2005-	Africa Sports Etoile du Sahel Al Ain Al Sadd OSC Lille	? (?) ? (?) ? (?) ? (?) 36 (8)
National team²
2000-	Cote d'Ivoire	28 (6)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 October 2006. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 21 June 2006. * Appearances (Goals)

Abdul Kader Keïta (born 6 August 1981 in Abidjan) is a Côte d'Ivoire football attacking midfielder who plays for OSC Lille.

1 Club career
2 International career
3 Family
4 Awards
5 External links

[edit] Club career

Keïta, also known as 'Popito', began his career at homeland club Africa Sports, before moving on to Tunisian Club Etoile du Sahel. Following spells in United Arab Emirates with Al Ain and Qater with Al Sadd, he moved to France with Ligue 1 club OSC Lille in 2005.

Following an impressive start to the 2006/07 campaign, Keita has been attracting interest from some of Europes big guns. After his performances against Italian giants AC Milan, he has reportedly been linked with a move there in the January transfer window, who have been tracking the Ivorian's progress for a number of months.

Keita has also been linked with moves to European big guns Manchester United, Liverpool, and also Inter Milan. However, the Ivorian recently signed a contract extension which will keep him at Lille until 2010.

[edit] International career

He has 28 caps for the national team, and was called up to the 2006 World Cup. Keïta did not make it into the Ivorian squad for the 2006 African Cup of Nations. However, he did win his place back for the World Cup at the expense of Stade Reims winger Siaka Tiéné.

[edit] Family

Like the Touré brothers, the Kalou brothers, and the Koné brothers, Keita is also part of a footballing family. He has an older brother going by the name of Fadel Keita, who is a former Cote d'Ivoire international and Africa Sports player.

[edit] Awards

In January 2007, Keïta finished runner up in the 2006 Ivorian Player of the Year award, beating off the opposition of players such as Kolo Toure and Aruna Dindane. The award was won by Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

[edit] External links

	Côte d'Ivoire squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Tizié \| 2 Akalé \| 3 Boka \| 4 K. Touré \| 5 Zokora \| 6 Kouassi \| 7 Faé \| 8 Kalou \| 9 A. Koné \| 10 Yapi Yapo \| 11 Drogba \| 12 Méïté \| 13 Zoro \| 14 B. Koné \| 15 Dindane \| 16 Gnanhouan \| 17 Domoraud \| 18 Keïta \| 19 Y. Touré \| 20 Demel \| 21 Eboué \| 22 Romaric \| 23 Barry \| Coach: Michel

Lille OSC - Current Squad
1 Sylva \| 2 Debuchy \| 4 Tavlaridis \| 5 Schmitz \| 7 Cabaye \| 8 Bastos \| 9 Audel \| 11 Youla \| 12 Bodmer \| 13 Fauvergue \| 14 Odemwingie \| 14 da Conceição \| 16 Malicki \| 17 Makoun \| 19 Franquart \| 20 Tafforeau \| 21 Chalme \| 22 Vitakić \| 23 Keïta \| 25 Plestan \| 26 Lichtsteiner \| 27 Mirallas \| 29 Dumont \| 30 Pichon \| 31 Ewane-Elong \| 35 Obraniak \| -- Chedjou \| -- Makiese \| coach Puel