Sadio Mane Archives

Mane aims to inspire Senegal to second title on AFCON farewell

Sadio Mane will cement his status as one of the all-time great African players if he can lead Senegal to victory against hosts Morocco in Sunday’s Cup of Nations final, a game he has said will be his farewell to the AFCON.

Former Liverpool star Mane turns 34 in April and has played over 120 times for his country, going back to a debut against Morocco shortly after his 20th birthday in 2012.

The high point of his international career came in February 2022, when he starred as the Lions of Teranga beat Egypt on penalties in the Cup of Nations final in Yaounde.

Having missed a penalty during normal time that night, he stepped up to score the decisive kick in the shoot-out and Senegal, World Cup quarter-finalists in 2002, were African champions for the first time.

A huge weight was lifted off the shoulders of the boy from a small town on the banks of the Casamance River in southern Senegal.

“Before I won the Africa Cup, sometimes I played badly because of the pressure,” Mane admitted in a recent interview for the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast as he opened up on the significance of that victory.

“People in Europe love their national team, but some people love their club more — Senegal is the opposite.

“That is why there is this big pressure, so I just had to win this. It was really important.”

There have also been plenty of lows for the two-time African footballer of the year, including the defeat in the final against Algeria in Cairo in 2019 and missing the 2022 World Cup with injury.

But he is hoping to make 2026 a memorable year by claiming a second AFCON winner’s medal before turning his attentions to the World Cup in the United States, where Senegal will be in the same group as France and Norway.

After scoring the winning goal in Wednesday’s semi-final win over Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Mane announced that the final against Morocco in Rabat would be his last game at the Cup of Nations.

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“I hope to win and bring the trophy back to Dakar,” said the forward who has spent the last two and a half years in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, where he counts Cristiano Ronaldo among his teammates.

There is a feeling that the approaching World Cup might be the swansong for a generation of Senegal players, which also includes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, skipper Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye.

Sadio Mane spent a large chunk of his international career playing under Aliou Cisse before Pape Thiaw took over as coach in late 2024.

“Let’s hope we have many more years with him, because you don’t find a player like him every day, and we need to make the most of him,” Thiaw said of Mane after the Egypt win.

“I hope this won’t be his last final; there are other competitions coming up, so we’ll see.”

Mane has scored just twice in Morocco over the last month, his other goal coming in a group-stage draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He now has 11 Cup of Nations goals in total, placing him among an elite band of players to have reached double figures.

With Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye growing in importance and Paris Saint-Germain teenager Ibrahim Mbaye emerging at this tournament, Mane must feel Senegal’s attack is in good hands going forward.

His announcement suggests that he is ready to turn his back on the next AFCON, which is set to take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda next year.

If he can help deliver a second title in three editions for Senegal, confirming their status as a modern African footballing superpower, he will surely feel as though his work is done.

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Bayern’s Sadio Mane set to join Ronaldo at Saudi’s Al Nassr

Bayern Munich announced on Saturday that Senegalese striker Sadio Mane was in talks “about a change of club” with reports suggesting he was destined for Saudi side Al Nassr.

The German champions left Mane out of a friendly match in Tokyo, posting on social media: “Sadio Mane is in contract negotiations about a change of club and is therefore not in the line-up today.”

The 31-year-old former Liverpool star is expected to become the latest high-profile player to join the cash-rich Saudi league.

As Bild and Kicker magazine reported Sadio Mane was on his way for a medical with Al Nassr, and Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel declined to be drawn on the player’s future.

“We are still in the transfer window and I would like to see what’s going on and wait and see how things will happen,” he told reporters after Bayern’s 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale in Japan.

Sadio Mane would be another major signing for the club that pulled off the first coup of a raft of signings by Saudi clubs, luring Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Mane won the Champions League and Premier League in six seasons with Liverpool and was a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s devastating front three with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

When Liverpool won their first English league title for 30 years in the pandemic-disrupted 2019-2020 season, Mane scored 18 goals.

But in the summer of 2022, when he won the African Player of the Year, Mane decided he wanted a new challenge — unconfirmed rumours said he had tired of sharing the limelight with Egypt’s Salah at Anfield.

Bayern made a big play for Mane, promising to make him the focal point of an attack which had just lost the services of Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona.

After a strong start to the season at Bayern, it soon become clear that Mane was not clicking in Bavaria.

In a Bundesliga game against Werder Bremen in November, Mane suffered an injury to his fibula and his season was put on hold.

The injury forced him to miss the World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year in a crushing blow to Senegal’s chances.

While Sadio Mane returned to the Bayern team in 2023, his problems were underlined when he became involved in a physical altercation with teammate Leroy Sane following a Champions League defeat to Manchester City.

Bayern reportedly fined Mane around 350,000 euros ($385,000) and gave him a one-match suspension for his part in the incident.

He ended the season with an underwhelming 12 goals in 38 games across all competitions.

He is set to quit Bayern with two years left on his contract.

On the international stage, Sadio Mane helped Senegal to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022.

Apart from Cristiano Ronaldo Al Nassr have also signed this summer Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, Brazil full-back Alex Telles and Ivory Coast midfielder Seko Fofana.

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Mane incident with Sane ‘dealt with’, says Bayern’s Tuchel

The incident between Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane has been “dealt with” after the Senegal star was fined and suspended by Bayern Munich, coach Thomas Tuchel said on Friday.

Mane was suspended for this weekend’s Bundesliga game against Hoffenheim after reportedly having a physical altercation with Sane following Tuesday’s Champions League defeat at Manchester City.

German daily Bild said Mane struck Sane in the face after the 3-0 loss, leaving the Germany international with a cut lip.

Mane has also reportedly been fined around 500,000 euros ($550,000).

“Of course it concerned us,” Tuchel told a press conference. “A limit was crossed that we don’t want and that we didn’t tolerate.

“But we cleared the air. There was an apology which was absolutely credible… The matter is dealt with.”

Mane has struggled for form since returning from a leg injury which forced him to miss last year’s World Cup in Qatar and has not scored since October.

“I am his first lawyer and his first defender,” said Tuchel, who only replaced the sacked Julian Nagelsmann last month.

“I have known him for so long, I know his entourage. I know him exclusively as a super professional, I have never, never, never, seen anything that we can blame him for…

“Everyone has the right to make a mistake.”

Tuchel, who did not see the incident himself, said the 31-year-old apologised to the entire team and that the way it had been dealt with had a “cleansing effect”.

Mane will be available for the quarter-final second leg against Manchester City at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

Bayern were also knocked out of the German Cup by Freiburg in the quarter-finals and only hold a two-point lead over Borussia Dortmund as they chase an 11th straight Bundesliga title.

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Bayern suspend Mane after Sane dressing room spat

BERLIN: Bayern Munich have suspended forward Sadio Mane for one game following an altercation with Leroy Sane after this week’s Champions League loss to Man City, the club announced Thursday.

Newspaper Bild reported former City winger Sane was hit in the face by the Senegal attacker, suffering a cut lip after Tuesday’s loss.

“Sadio Mane, 31, will not be in the FC Bayern squad for the home game against 1899 Hoffenheim next Saturday,” Bayern said.

“The reason is misconduct by Mane after FC Bayern’s Champions League game at Manchester City.

“In addition, Mane will receive a fine,” they added.

The one-match suspension means Mane will be available for manager Thomas Tuchel in Wednesday’s return leg against Manchester City in Munich.

Bild reported the clash started in the dying stages of Bayern’s loss in Manchester, with footage showing the two arguing on the pitch.

Mane has endured a frustrating time since joining the German champions from Liverpool in the summer of 2022.

Signed as a replacement for the departing Robert Lewandowski, the Champions League winner has scored 11 times in 32 matches for Bayern.

The two-time African Player of the Year scored six goals in his first seven matches in all competitions for Bayern, but has not scored since October.

Mane has also had six goals ruled out for offside so far this season for Bayern, a Bundesliga record.

Mane suffered a leg injury while playing for Bayern against Werder Bremen in November which kept him out of Senegal’s Qatar World Cup campaign and he missed nine club matches.

After Bayern’s German Cup exit at the hands of Freiburg in early April, a smiling Mane told reporters “soon, I promise you” after he was asked when he would return to the spectacular form he displayed with Liverpool.

Mane was given his first start under Tuchel, who replaced the sacked Julian Nagelsmann last month, in Saturday’s 1-0 league win at Freiburg, missing several chances to score.

Before the incident, Bayern chief executive Oliver Kahn acknowledged Mane’s struggles, putting it down to the former Southampton striker having “a lot of competition” for starting spots.

“He doesn’t know that (from Liverpool) and is perhaps not used to it.”

“He’s still looking for himself.”

Bayern declined media requests to comment on the altercation.

Mane and Sane were seen on the training pitch early on Thursday, hours before the suspension was announced.

The loss was Bayern’s biggest Champions League defeat since 2017 and one of the club’s most devastating defeats in Champions League history.

Despite Mane being available, the six-time European champions now have little hope of turning over the deficit in next Wednesday’s return leg in Munich to make it to the semi-finals.

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Bayern’s Mane and Sane clashed after Man City defeat: reports

BERLIN: Bayern Munich forwards Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane had a physical altercation in the dressing room after the 3-0 loss to Manchester City in the Champions League, German media reported on Wednesday.

According to Bild, Sky Germany and a number of other media sources, the two players clashed after the match and needed to be separated by teammates.

Bild reported that former City winger Sane was hit in the face by the Senegal international, suffering a cut lip.

Bayern declined requests to comment on the altercation on Wednesday.

Bild reported the clash started in the dying stages of Bayern’s loss in Manchester on Tuesday, with footage showing the two arguing on the pitch.

The loss was Bayern’s biggest Champions League defeat since 2017.

The six-time European champions now have little hope of turning over the deficit in Wednesday’s return leg in Munich to make it to the semi-finals.

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Sadio Mane returns to training with Bayern Munich

MUNICH: Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane returned to training on Tuesday, as the Senegalese international continued his recovery from a leg injury which forced him out of the World Cup.

In a video published on the club’s Twitter page, Mane appeared on the snow-covered pitch at Munich’s Saebener Strasse training ground, telling the cameras “Hey, it’s a good feeling, after a long holiday, to be back.”

Mane, 30, injured his right leg during Bayern’s 6-1 home win against Werder Bremen on November 8 and underwent surgery, ruling him out of Senegal’s World Cup campaign.

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said in early January that Mane, who arrived last summer from Liverpool, could be in line for a return for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash against Paris Saint-Germain on March 8.

“If everything goes really well, he may be able to play again against Paris,” Nagelsmann said, telling the media there’s only a “small chance he plays the first leg”.

Mane will not be involved in Bayern’s game at home against Cologne later on Tuesday.

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Senegal’s Sadio Mane ruled out of Qatar World Cup with leg injury

DOHA: Senegal star Sadio Mane has been ruled out of FIFA World Cup 2022 after a knee injury he sustained in a Bayern Munich match last week.

The Bayern forward was diagnosed with an injury to his right fibula after he limped off during a Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen, 13 days before his national team’s Qatar campaign.

Mane will miss out on the World Cup since he has not recovered in time before the megaevent, confirmed Senegal’s team doctor on Thursday

“Unfortunately, today’s [Thursday] MRI shows us that the improvement is not as favourable as we imagined and unfortunately, we have to withdraw Sadio from the World Cup,” said Manuel Afonso in a video posted on the official Senegal Twitter account. He added that surgical intervention was needed.

The former Liverpool forward’s phenomenal run this year earned him the runners-up spot in the 2022 Ballon d’Or – bagged by Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.

Mane, 30, was named African Player of the Year as he was voted ahead of ex-teammate Mohamed Salah and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Senegal will face host Qatar four days after its opening game against the Netherlands. Its final game in Group A is against Ecuador on November 29.

The absence of its talisman will be a fatal blow for Senegal, as Mane inspired his national side to the African Cup of Nations title at the start of 2022, scoring the winning penalty in a shoot-out with Egypt.

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Cisse ‘optimistic’ as he names injured Mane in Senegal World Cup squad

DAKAR: Ballon d’Or runner-up Sadio Mane was named in Senegal’s World Cup squad by coach Aliou Cisse on Friday in spite of a recent injury.

Cisse, who captained Senegal at the 2002 World Cup, said he hoped the condition of the Bayern Munich attacker would improve within a few weeks and declared himself “really optimistic” that the injury would not require an operation.

Mane’s involvement in the tournament was in doubt after he limped off during Bayern’s 6-1 win over Werder Bremen on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old was diagnosed with an injury to his right fibula and will undergo further tests.

“I preferred to keep him in the group,” Cisse told reporters.

“Sadio Mane is an important player in our squad, it is important to continue to follow his injury, hoping that in two or three weeks there will be progress. But we are really optimistic.

“We will give ourselves all the necessary means to allow Sadio Mane to recover.”

Mane’s fitness has been a major cause of concern in Senegal, the current African champions, with state president Macky Sall tweeting on Wednesday: “Sadio, heart of a Lion! All my heart is with you!”

Cisse admitted the possible absence of the talisman would be a massive blow for the continent.

“Losing Sadio Mane is not an easy thing for a coach, for the team, even for African football,” he said.

“We don’t want to think about it but inevitably we have to be prepared should Sadio Mane be absent.

“For now, we still have time ahead of us. I don’t want to talk about the absence of Sadio Mane even if, in the back of my head, I’m trying to prepare for it.”

Mane, who has scored 33 goals in 92 international matches, is joined in the squad by Abdou Diallo, another player who has recently missed game time due to injury as well as Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye and Chelsea pair Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly.

Left back Saliou Ciss, who is currently without a club, is omitted with Fode Ballo-Toure or Ismail Jakobs providing the options on the left.

“I chose a team that can meet the demands of this competition. We gained experience in 2018 and through our continental championships. We are going to Qatar, aware of our qualities and above all with high ambitions.”

Senegal have been drawn in Group A and play their opening game on November 21 against the Netherlands, before going on to meet tournament hosts Qatar and Ecuador.

SENEGAL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea/ENG), Seny Dieng (QPR/ENG), Alfred Gomis (Rennes/FRA)

Defenders: Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis/ESP), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea/ENG), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig/GER), Pape Abou Cisse (Olympiakos/GRE), Formose Mendy (Amiens/FRA), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco/FRA), Fode Ballo-Toure (AC Milan/ITA)

Midfielders: Nampalys Mendy (Leicester/ENG), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham/ENG), Idrissa Gueye (Everton/ENG), Krepin Diatta (Monaco/FRA), Moustapha Name (Pafos/CYP), Mamadou Loum (Reading/ENG), Pape Gueye (Marseille/FRA), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano/ESP)

Forwards: Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich/GER), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana/ITA), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal/ESP), Bamba Dieng (Marseille/FRA), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United/ENG), Ismaila Sarr (Watford/ENG), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor/TUR)

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Mane wins second African Player of the Year award

RABAT: Sadio Mane was crowned African Player of the Year in Rabat on Thursday for the second time.

The Senegal forward first won the honour in 2019 while he was at Liverpool.

The 30-year-old left the Premier League club last month after signing a three-year deal with Bayern Munich.

“I am really honoured and highly delighted to receive this award again,” Mane said.

“Thanks to my coaches, my club and national team colleagues and those friends who stood by me during difficult times.”

Mane was in the Moroccan capital to receive the award after a dash across the Atlantic having converted a penalty for his new club in a 6-2 pre-season friendly win over DC United in Washington on Wednesday.

It was the second successive continental player of the year award for Mane after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the last two editions.

He won ahead of former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah from Egypt and fellow Senegal international and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Mane and Salah played pivotal roles last season with Liverpool, who lifted the FA Cup and English League Cup and finished runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League.

Salah has since signed a new contract at Anfield while Mane opted for a move, with Bayern reportedly paying an initial 32 million euros ($32.5 million) that could rise to 41 million euros.

The transfer fee was a far cry from the four million euros Red Bull Salzburg paid Metz in 2012 when Mane made his first move to Europe.

Senegal forward Sadio Mane joins Bayern Munich on three-year contract

LONDON: Senegal forward Sadio Mane has signed a three-year-long contract with the German Champions Bayern Munich after a £27.5m deal.

Mane departs the Liverpool having made 269 appearances and scored 120 goals in all competitions since signing from Southampton in 2016.

Bayern will pay Liverpool an initial £27.5 million after the trade, with an additional £5 million depending on appearances and an additional £2.5 million based on individual and team accomplishments.

Looks good on you, Sadio! 🔴⚪

📰 https://t.co/vaC4kmp2VB #ServusMané #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/UGr56XqqEt

— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) June 22, 2022

Mane left Liverpool after the club-record acquisition of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez from Benfica. He, however, had one year left on his contract at Anfield.

During his six-year tenure at the Liverpool, the Senegalese forward won the Premier League, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

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