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

It all began in Bambali for Sadio Mane.

He first started playing football in South-West Senegal when, aged 13, he watched Liverpool’s famous comeback against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final on its red earth-lined streets and sandy pitches.

He has since won the prestigious trophy and the Premier League with the Reds, as well as the Africa Cup of Nations title with the Teranga Lions.

In the 2021 edition’s final, Mane scored the winning penalty and described it as “the best day of my life and the best trophy of my life.”

Following that victory, Sedhiou, a stadium was named after him in the city of Sedhiou in recognition of his accomplishments.

The forward now has a chance to win a second Afcon title when Senegal takes on Morocco on Sunday at 5:00 pt. m. et in Rabat, and the forward could also walk out of the tournament in ablaze of glory.

Mane’s second-half goal earned Egypt its place in the final four, saying, “We know how to play the final.”

A final is meant to be won, the statement goes. I’m thrilled to participate in my final Afcon final, enjoy it, and help my nation triumph.

Mane, who he called “a legend of Senegal,” is being persuaded by the squad to change their minds and attend at least the 2027 edition of the game in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

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

Mane, 33, still has his roots in Saudi Arabia and works for Al-Nassr, despite having a glitzy trophy cabinet.

He made a million dollars in Bambali through his charitable acts, including giving money to build mosques, hospitals, and funds to support the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory in the 2018 Champions League final, he also sent 300 Liverpool shirts to his hometown.

On a recent visit to the village, Fode Boucar Dahaba, the president of a regional league, told BBC Sport Africa, “Sadio behaves very humbly, on a level with the people in Bambali.”

He doesn’t want to appear distinctive. The village reciprocates his entire love.

He is characterized as a “good Muslim” and “working for everyone” by his family.

When he assisted in the cleaning of the bathrooms at a mosque in Toxteth following a Liverpool victory, that was immediately apparent during his time in the top flight.

The imam at Al Rahma Mosque, Abu Usamah Al-Tahabi, said, “He wanted to stay quiet and wasn’t doing it for publicity.”

He doesn’t seek fanfare, he says. There is no such thing as arrogance.

In the run-up to the final, Senegal’s Moussa Niakhate praised Mane as “an incredible man.”

Mane has over 120 caps and has scored 53 goals for his nation.

He intends to play at the World Cup later this year, where more wonderful memories could be made, because he has so frequently been the hero on the pitch in recent years.

In the first half of the 2021 Afcon final, he saved an early penalty kick, but he stepped up once more to decide the match with Egypt in Yaounde.

He also handled the 2022 Fifa World Cup play-off against the Pharaohs in the same manner, though he ultimately missed out on the tournament in Qatar due to injury.

Although he hasn’t been particularly creative at the Afcon finals this year, his 78th-minute strike against Egypt, who were once more gifted with Mane’s magic, was enough to place the Teranga Lions in the final.

Idrissa Gana Gueye, the player’s decisive intervention in Tangier on Wednesday, told the BBC World Service, “That’s what we expect from him.”

Mane may not be Senegal’s captain and may speak with a modest demeanor, but his teammates will take note.

He “motivated all of us” before playing Egypt, according to Pape Gueye in his pre-game speech.

He spoke the right way to ensure that our match was completely focused.

He also has the knowledge of calming us down because he has watched a lot of matches. He instructs us to remain calm, even after we score or if we concede a goal, as you can see from his gestures.

Mane won the majority of his international caps under Aliou Cisse, who led the West Africans from 2015 to 2024, but it is understandable that Pape Thiaw wants his talisman to continue playing for the nation.

I believe he made his decision in the midst of the moment, and I, the national team’s coach, do not at all concur, Thaiw said.

We want to keep him as long as possible.

Senegal is in opposition to the host nation, but the team has additional motivation to defend Mane.

Defender Niakhate remarked, “We owe it to him to bring that second star back, which would unquestionably make him one of the greatest players the continent has ever known.”

He “adds so much to this team,” Pape Gueye continued.