Senegalese Muslim player Sadio Mane displayed a touch of class towards his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah ahead their PL match against Norwich City on Saturday.
Before the game, Mane turned down the Anfield’s homecoming AFCON celebration following his country’s victory over Salah’s Egypt, showing respect to his teammate, Mirror reported.
He also made a special request to Liverpool not to make any reference of him and Senegal lifting Africa’s most prestigious tournament.
The two Reds Muslim superstars went head-to-head in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this month, as Mane’s Senegal edged out Salah’s Egypt in the showpiece match in Cameroon.
It was Mane who dramatically struck the winning penalty to seal victory for the Senegalese team, his nation’s first-ever title.
Mane showed another classy touch in Yaoundé when he embraced his Mohamed Salah who was visibly emotional.
Anther Clash
Next month, the two stars will go head-to-head once again as they contest a World Cup playoff qualification spot.
Mane outlined that he and Salah did not talk about the ongoing rivalry between their two international sides ahead of the crucial World Cup qualification games.
“Me and Mo Salah don’t even talk about it,” he told the Que Golazo Youtube Channel.“I think that I’m still thinking about my African Cup, but it’s also an important game that means a lot to me and my people.
Mane’s gesture has been widely praised on social media.
The Liverpool FC striker has never been one who seems to seek the limelight, especially off the field. Yet, he is one of the biggest stars in his native Senegal, beloved both for his play on the field as well as for his off-pitch philanthropy.
In 2020, Sadio Mane made a donation worth 30 million CFA francs (£41,000) to aid the battle against coronavirus in Senegal.
In 2019, he donated close to $350,000 (£250,000) to build a school in Bambali, and also delivered a hospital and a mosque to his people as a give-back initiative.