Kanoute "playing for Africa"

Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute claims his new role as standard bearer for Mali’s football team has seen him fulfil an ambition to act as a cultural ambassador for Africa.

Kanoute was born in the French town of Sainte-Foy-les-Lions but opted to play for his father’s homeland, Mali, shortly before the African Nations Cup.

Kanoute has been a sensation and has scored four goals in three games for Mali going into today’s semi-final with Morocco, but most of all he is delighted to be promoting African football and culture.

“I am not a nationalist,” Kanoute told L’Équipe. “If I am delighted to be playing in the African Nations Cup it is also for Africa.

“Most of our countries are in similar situations. Difficult situations.

“In this competition we are all together. It’s good to promote African culture. Football is part of that.

“The step I took (deciding to play for Mali) was obviously firstly a footballing one. But it was also to get to know the country.”

He revealed that his passion for Mali came from childhood stories from his father.

“My relationship with Mali is related to my father’s stories,” said Kanoute. “But on a personal level it was when I went on holiday (during his childhood) that I discovered the country.”