Sadio Mane: Senegal’s hero takes the trophy to bed – more important than the Champions League
Sadio Mane of Senegal touches the trophy during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
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Sadio Mane has led Senegal to their first Africa Cup of Nations title. The cup is even more important to him than the premier class.
Sadio Mane slouched comfortably in his bed, Senegal’s hero grinned all over his face, he never gave up the object of his desire – the golden trophy for the triumph at the Africa Cup. “It’s the best day of my life, I think it’s the most important trophy of my life,” said Mane, star forward of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC.
Mane has already been English champion, he won the Champions League and the Club World Cup – and now the 29-year-old is also the African champion. The latter is “more important. I’m very proud.”
After two lost finals in 2002 and 2019 Mane now led Senegal to their first victory at the Africa Cup, 4:2 after the penalty shoot-out in the final against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt – and Mane converted the winning try.
Mane comforts Salah: “He’s a champion”
He had awarded the point in the early stages of the game. “Before the last penalty, everyone came to me and said, ‘Sadio, you missed, but what the heck, we’re a team, we win together and we lose together’,” said Mane: “And I think that has it Made a difference because it gave me so much motivation that I was more focused than ever.”
At home, Mane and Co. caused unbelievable cheering scenes in the streets of Dakar, President Macky Sall sent his congratulations and without further ado declared Monday a public holiday in Senegal – so that the heroes could receive a fitting reception.
“The Senegalese people have suffered a lot,” said Mane, still on the pitch comforting his Liverpool team-mate Salah, who shed bitter tears. “He’s a champion. It won’t weigh him down because it’s not the first time. It’s part of the game. I know him, he’s mentally very strong and he’ll come back stronger.”