Football is more than just a sport, and players aren’t just mere players. They become role models for their millions of fans and need to set a good precedent for the people they inspire. Liverpool and Senegal forward Sadio Mane is one of those players who understand that perfectly.
The 29-year-old forward recently won the AFCON tournament with Senegal; their first international trophy. However, more importantly, he reminded everyone how good of a person he is during the tournament.
Mane was being treated for a concussion in a Cameroon hospital, and he reportedly paid the hospital bill of a child who had sustained life-threatening injuries. The child’s family couldn’t afford the CFA 400,000 medical bill and Mane covered it all. It was a great deed done by a man who is known for his philanthropy.
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Notably, Sadio Mane had also donated 750,000 pounds to build a school and a hospital in his hometown of Banbali, Senegal.
Mane’s record for Liverpool this season
The Senegalese forward hasn’t just been an inspiration off the pitch, he has been great on the pitch as well. He won the best player of the tournament award at AFCON, helping his team win it all. Moreover, Mane has been in good form for Liverpool as well.
He has scored 10 goals for the club this season in 26 appearances in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. His numbers have gone downhill since the 2018-19 campaign where he scored 22 goals, but he has still been instrumental for the club.
Sadio Mane wins AFCON for Senegal
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The AFCON final between Senegal and Egypt was a very interesting match, with loads of chances for both sides. However, the biggest chance of the game fell to Sadio Mane, who had his penalty saved by Egypt keeper Abou Gabal.
Sadio Mane deserves all of his success 💚 pic.twitter.com/thT6o0hum4
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 7, 2022
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The game ended up in a deadlock, as both the teams couldn’t score. It all came down to the penalty shootout and Senegal keeper Edouard Mendy was the hero as he saved two penalties. Eventually, Mane stepped up on the last kick of the game and scored it to win it all for Senegal and write his name in the history books of the game.