Following Senegal’s victory in the Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON], Sadio Mane will have a stadium named after him in his native district of Sedhiou.
The 29-year-old was one of the tournament’s highlights, scoring the game-winning penalty in a shootout against Egypt in the final to give Senegal their first AFCON title.
Last Monday, tens of thousands of fans lined the streets of Dakar, Senegal’s city, to welcome the squad and celebrate their victory, while President Macky Sall presented the players with cash and real estate, as well as the country’s greatest honor.
“Mane has honored Senegal, the region of Sedhiou, and the entire (state) of Casamance,” Abdoulaye Diop, the city’s mayor, told the Senegalese news site Leral.
“I would like to rename the Sedhiou Stadium Sadio Mane Stadium to show the gratitude of all the daughters and sons of the region to a man who brought Bambali and its regional capital, Sedhiou, to the attention of the entire world.”
“This present is well-deserved by Sadio Mane.”
Sedhiou, a small town in south-western Senegal with a population of less than 25,000 people, has become famous thanks to Mane’s successes with Liverpool and the national side. By 2023, the stadium that bears his name will be constructed.
Senegal Wins First AFCON
The African Cup of Nations Final was held in Olembe Stadium in Cameroon on Sunday, February 6th, 2022, between last year’s runners-up Senegal and Egypt’s Pharaohs.
The game ended 0-0 after 120 minutes, with Senegal’s greatest chance coming from a penalty that Sadio Mane missed in the seventh minute.
Mane was able to correct his earlier error from the spot to score the game-winning penalty and give Senegal the trophy after a thrilling shootout.
Mohamed Salah was supposed to take Egypt’s sixth penalty, but he was never given the opportunity.
It’s been a great competition for the past month, with Liverpool’s superstars at the center of it all.
Sadio Mane! That particular person! He misses a penalty in the seventh minute, but converts one in the 120th minute.
WATCH MANE’S WINNER HERE;
Super Sadio Mané
- First Senegalese player to win the Premier League
- First Senegalese player to win the Champions League
- Scored the winning penalty that gave Senegal first ever AFCON Trophy
