Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane requested to be excused from Senegal's friendly against England, following criticism and online trolling over his recent performances for the African nation.

Mane, 33, who delighted Anfield for six years playing alongside Mohamed Salah and made his feelings clear on the Egyptian, was disheartened by the widespread criticism he received after the two World Cup qualifiers against Sudan and Togo in March.

Senegal's head coach Pape Thiaw reluctantly granted Mane's request to sit out Friday's match against the Republic of Ireland and Tuesday's encounter with England at the City Ground in Nottingham "for personal reasons."



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Mane, currently playing with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, faces an uncertain future at club level after the Saudi Pro League club informed him that he is free to seek new opportunities this summer.

Senegal coach Thiaw said: "It is a personal decision that belongs to Mane - and I respect it as a coach.

Sadio is a very important player for us.

"But I don't coach one player, I coach 26 players, and so the most important thing is the collective.

However, it's the star with an illustrious 12-year European career at Metz, Red Bull Salzburg, Southampton, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich who consistently finds himself under the most scrutiny.

Currently sitting second in their group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, just a point adrift of DR Congo after a stalemate with Sudan and a 2-0 victory over Togo, Mane expressed his feelings: "A lot is said about me and I think I'm the most criticized player in Senegal.

"I don't have a problem with it

But there must be better things to do than criticise Sadio Mane

The most important thing is that Sadio is there and ready for the big events to come."