Africa Cup of Nations 2025: Will the final be Sadio Mane’s last dance with Senegal?

For Sadio Mane, it all started at Bambali.

In southwest Senegal, he began playing football in its red-turfed streets and sandy pitches, where, at the age of thirteen, he watched Liverpool’s famous comeback against Milan in the 2005 Champions League final.

Since then, he has gone on to lift the prestigious trophy and the Premier League with the Reds, as well as winning the Africa Cup of Nations with the Teranga Lions.

Mane scored the decisive penalty kick against Egypt in the final of the 2021 edition, describing it as “the best day of my life and the best cup of my life.”

The stadium in the city of Sedhiu, less than four hours from his birthplace, was named after this victory in recognition of his achievements.

The striker now has a chance to win a second Africa Cup of Nations title when Senegal takes on Morocco on Sunday in Rabat (19:00 GMT) – and perhaps exit the tournament in a blaze of glory.

“We know how to play the final,” Mane said after his second-half goal that led Egypt to the semi-finals.

“A final means victory. I will be very happy to play in my last Africa Cup of Nations final, enjoy it and get a win for my country.”

Midfielder Pape Gueye says the team aims to convince Mane, whom he describes as a “Senegal legend”, to change his mind about this being his last Africa Cup of Nations and stay with the team until at least the 2027 edition in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

“We will try to keep him with us a little longer, because he still has some great years to offer,” the 26-year-old Villarreal player told BBC Afrique.

“I heard what he said and we will see what he decides to do. But we really want him to stay with us for many more years.”