Inside Mo Salah and Sadio Mane Feud as Liverpool Star Seeks AFCON Revenge

By Mirror Sport Reporter | Published: January 13, 2026

The simmering rivalry between Liverpool legends Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane has reignited ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with Salah reportedly eyeing "revenge" against his former teammate and Egypt's opponents Senegal.

Roots of the Feud

The tension between Salah and Mane dates back to their time at Anfield, where they formed a lethal partnership, scoring over 300 goals combined between 2017 and 2022. However, cracks appeared publicly in 2022 during a tense Premier League draw against Manchester City. Salah accused Mane of poor timing on a pass, leading to a heated exchange and Liverpool's subsequent loss of both players—Mane to Bayern Munich and Salah remaining at Anfield.

Off the pitch, whispers of jealousy emerged: Mane reportedly felt overshadowed by Salah's commercial dominance and Ballon d'Or favoritism, while Salah viewed Mane's exit as disloyalty amid Liverpool's trophy drought.

AFCON Showdown

Now, with AFCON 2026 underway in Morocco, Egypt and Senegal are on a collision course. Salah, Egypt's talismanic captain, has been in blistering form, netting four goals in the group stage. Sources close to the Liverpool star claim he's "fired up" for a potential quarter-final clash, motivated by past slights. "Mo wants to prove he's Africa's best," an insider told Mirror Sport.

Mane, now at Al-Nassr with Cristiano Ronaldo, leads Senegal as they chase back-to-back titles. Despite a recent dip, the 33-year-old exudes confidence: "History is history; the pitch decides."

Liverpool Legacy and Beyond

Fans reminisce about their glory days—Champions League triumph in 2019—but the feud underscores football's ruthlessness. Salah's contract expires in 2026, fueling speculation of a Saudi move to join Mane. For now, AFCON offers the ultimate stage for redemption.

Egypt tops Group A; Senegal leads Group B. A dream matchup looms, promising fireworks.

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