The Africa Cup of Nations is not just a football tournament. It is the biggest stage in African football. Every nation plays for pride, history, and respect.
Players leave their clubs and carry the hopes of millions. In 2025, Senegal returned to AFCON as one of the favorites, and all eyes were on them.
Sadio Mane carried that weight. Even at 33, he remained the leader of the Teranga Lions.
Senegal traveled to Morocco knowing every opponent wanted to take their crown. The journey was not easy. The matches were intense. The pressure was heavy. And the final was chaos.
Senegal faced the host nation, Morocco in the final in Rabat. The game was tight and emotional.
In the final minutes, Morocco were given a controversial penalty. The decision angered the Senegal players so much that they walked off the pitch. For 17 minutes, the match was stopped.
Mane stepped in as a leader. He calmed his teammates. He convinced them to return.
The match continued. Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed the penalty, and Edouard Mendy made the save.
In extra time, Pape Gueye scored in the 94th minute to seal a 1–0 win.
Senegal were champions again. Mane finished the tournament with two goals and three assists. He was named Player of the Tournament.
After lifting the AFCON trophy, Mané returned to his club, Al-Nassr, in Saudi Arabia. What waited for him there was special.
Cristiano Ronaldo and the entire squad prepared a surprise. They welcomed Mane with a custom cake celebrating his AFCON win.
Ronaldo, now 40, personally cut a slice and gave Mane in front of the team.
Mane smiled and said: “Thank you, guys.”
Later, speaking to the club cameras, he added, “Thank you guys, I’m really happy for the present. I didn’t expect this.”
“That showed a warm welcome and I’m really really happy about it. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
For Liverpool fans, it was another reminder. Mane is still a winner. And the world still celebrates him.
Welcoming back our champion, Sadio Mané 🦁
The Nassr way 💛💛
pic.twitter.com/3tnvNPLEjK
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) January 23, 2026
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) January 23, 2026
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