Sadio Mané played for Liverpool from 2016 to 2022 at a world-class level, became an English champion, even won the Champions League, scored 120 goals, and provided 46 assists in 269 games. Almost four years after his departure from the island, hardly anyone talked about him anymore.
At the latest since his transfer from Bayern to Al-Nassr, the striker was only a shadow of his former self. Or are we mistaken?
In the current Africa Cup, the now 33-year-old is suddenly making waves again and can lead Senegal to the title in today's final against Morocco (8 PM). Especially in the semifinal against Egypt, Mané showed why Bayern Munich brought him to the Bundesliga in 2022 for the equivalent of 35 million euros. He made the difference.
In the 78th minute, the Senegalese powerfully struck the ball from 20 meters into the bottom left corner of the net, making it unstoppable at a score of 0:0. Thanks to the 1:0, the Lions advanced to the Africa Cup final for the second time in four years, and Mané is once again the hero of an entire nation. Previously, he had already scored in the group match against the Congo, started every game, and consistently posed a threat in the opponent's penalty areas.
The offensive ace once caused unrest at Bayern as well – unfortunately more off the field. First, Mané argued with coach Julian Nagelsmann, then he hit Leroy Sané in the face after a Champions League defeat against Manchester City.
"Such things can happen. It happened. We were able to resolve this small problem," Mané explained in the summer of 2023 to Senegalese media. For Bayern, however, the "small" problem was not so quickly forgotten. After just one year, FCB sold their mispurchase to Al-Nassr for 30 million euros. According to Mané's statements, the Saudi Pro League project simply sounded too enticing.
📸 Abdullah Ahmed – 2025 Getty Images
Far away from Europe's top leagues, Mané hasn't entirely lost his goal-scoring instinct. In 110 games for the team around superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, the African has scored 43 times so far. Perhaps he has just saved a few last reserves for the big moments.
One of those could be tonight in the final against Morocco. And who knows, maybe the former world star will enchant us again this summer at the World Cup. It seems that a Sadio Mané can indeed still make the difference.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.
📸 SEBASTIEN BOZON – AFP or licensors
