Will final be Mane’s last Afcon dance with Senegal?

For Sadio Mane, it all started in Bambali.

It was in south-west Senegal that he began playing football on its red earth-lined streets and sandy pitches and where, aged 13, he watched Liverpool’s famous comeback against AC Milan in the Champions League final in 2005.

Since then he has gone on to lift both that prestigious trophy and the Premier League with the Reds, as well as claiming the Africa Cup of Nations title with the Teranga Lions.

Mane scored the winning penalty against Egypt in the final of the 2021 edition and described it as “the best day of my life and the best trophy of my life”.

A stadium was named after him in the city of Sedhiou, just under four hours from his hometown, following that triumph as a recognition of his achievements.

The forward now has the chance to win a second Afcon title when Senegal face Morocco on Sunday in Rabat (19:00 GMT) – and potentially bow out from the tournament in a blaze of glory.

“We know how to play the final,” Mane said after his second-half strike saw off Egypt in the last four.

“A final is meant to be won. I will be very happy to play my last Afcon final, to enjoy it and to make my country win.”

Midfielder Pape Gueye says the squad aim to convince Mane, who he called “a legend of Senegal”, to change his mind about this being his final Afcon and remain with the team for at least the 2027 edition in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

“We’re going to try to keep him with us a bit longer, because he still has some great years to give,” the 26-year-old Villarreal man told BBC Afrique.

“I heard what he said and we’ll see what he decides to do. But we really want him to stay with us for many more years.”

By BBC