The 2022 World Cup fourth-placed team and host nation Morocco enter the final of the African Championships (Sunday, 8:00 PM) as favorites but also under enormous pressure.
That could speak for Senegal. Senegal has reached the final in three of the last four championships.
In 2021, the first and so far only title was won after a penalty shootout against Egypt. The hero of the match? Mané, who scored the decisive penalty.
Decisive against Egypt
In the semi-final, he scored the only goal against Egypt. Mané was also noted for his conduct. Immediately after the victory, he ran to the Egyptian bench and showed his respect for his dejected opponents.
The final will be his third and last in the African Championships.
Sadio Mané has made that clear.
"Personally, I will be very happy to play one last final in the African Championship," he said, according to Foot Africa.
"The only thing I know is that we need him; Senegal needs him. That's what he showed again against Egypt. Let's hope we get more years with him. A gentleman like Sadio Mané is not always found. We have to make the most of it. I hope this is not his last final. Because after that there are other competitions," Senegal national captain Pape Thiaw said after the semi-final.
The World Cup is coming up in the summer. In the group stage, Senegal will face Norway, among others.
Donating money
Sadio Mané is considered Senegal's greatest player of all time. Since 2012, he has scored 53 goals in 125 international appearances.
He is well-liked and respected for other reasons as well.
The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich player is now playing in the Saudi league. The huge sums he earns and has earned benefit people in Senegal.
In his childhood village of Bambali, he has financed, among other things, the construction of schools and wells so that the residents have access to clean water.
Norwegian coach Tor Thodesen worked for a few years in Senegal and told the news agency NTB:
"He moved to Saudi Arabia for the money, but everyone knows he doesn't just spend that money on himself."
"He has an absolutely enormous position in the team and in the country. It's obviously mostly about his performance on the field, but it also depends a lot on who he is," Thodesen said.
Henrik Skiöld/TT
Facts: Recent African Championship winners
TT
2023: Ivory Coast
2021: Senegal
2019: Algeria
2017: Cameroon
2015: Ivory Coast
2013: Nigeria
2012: Zambia
2010: Egypt
2008: Egypt
2006: Egypt
