Injury means that Seydou Keita is missing the tournament in Qatar

Mali lost 1-0 to World Cup qualifiers North Korea in a four-team tournament in Qatar as they warm-up for January's Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

Hong Yong-Jo, who plays in Russia for FC Rostov, scored the only goal of the game 10 minutes into the second half when he burst into the area from the left and fired past Soumbeyla Diakite.

It was enough to hand the Asian side a winning start to the event which also features Qatar and Iran.

Hong almost scored after four minutes but shot wide when faced with just the Mali goalkeeper.

Pak Song-Chol was next to come close with a free-kick which hit the left upright.

Mali laid siege to the Korea goal in the closing stages but could not find an equaliser.

The Eagles were without the injured Barcelona player Seydou Keita who is not with the squad in Qatar.

The national team doctors are confident that Keita will recover from the calf problem in time to play in Angola.

However Mali coach Stephen Keshi has been forced to make another change to his preliminary squad for Angola with Morocco-based Boubacar Sidiki Kone coming in for Auxerre defender Adama Coulibaly who has a serious knee injury.

Mali continue their preparations on Wednesday with a game against Iran, who play hosts Qatar before that on Monday.

The final game for Mali is against Qatar on Saturday.

The Eagles play hosts Angola in the opening game of the Nations Cup on 10 January before their other Group A matches against Algeria and Malawi.

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