Sadio Mané Sends Classy Message to Mohamed Salah

In the aftermath of Senegal's thrilling semifinal victory over Egypt at the AFCON 2025, Sadio Mané extended heartfelt praise to his former Liverpool teammate, Mohamed Salah, whose Egypt side was eliminated from the tournament[1][4][6]. Mané, who scored the decisive lone goal in the match, highlighted the collective effort of his team while graciously acknowledging Egypt's prowess on the continental stage[4].

"[I'd like] to pay tribute to Egypt, of course, as I always said, Egypt, for me, is the best-ever team in Africa and today they showed it again," Mané stated, demonstrating sportsmanship despite knocking Salah out of the competition[6]. This classy gesture underscores the mutual respect between the two forwards, who once formed a formidable attacking trio at Liverpool alongside Roberto Firmino.

Mané emphasized Senegal's disciplined performance: "Saya rasa kami bisa menjalani pertandingan dengan baik sejak awal hingga akhir. Secara keseluruhan, kami layak meraih kemenangan," he told Bein Sports, translating to his belief that his side deserved the win through solid play from start to finish without individual errors or unnecessary fouls[4]. Senegal's coach, Pape Thiaw, echoed this, praising the players' determination against a "tim hebat macam Mesir" (great team like Egypt)[4].

With Egypt's exit, Salah bid farewell via an Instagram post, prompting Mané's laudatory response, further cementing their bond beyond club rivalries[2]. Now, Senegal advances to the final against Morocco, who progressed after a penalty shootout win over Nigeria. Mané remained focused: "Kami harus jujur terkait laga final... Mari kita lihat dan kami akan berusaha untuk siap menghadapi laga final," stressing preparation and giving their best[4].

This moment not only celebrates Senegal's path to glory but also highlights enduring camaraderie in African football, as Mané pays homage to Salah and Egypt's legacy[1][6].