Hoisted aloft on the shoulders of his jubilant team-mates, Sadio Mané stretched both arms towards the sky. In one hand he clutched the gleaming golden trophy; the other was clenched in triumph. That wide, unrestrained smile told its own story, proclaiming to the world that African football has a reigning monarch — and his name is Sadio Mané. For the second time in his illustrious career, the Senegalese talisman has lifted the Africa Cup of Nations, sealing his place among the continent’s immortals.
Whether Mohamed Salah witnessed this coronation is open to question, but the news will certainly have reached him. Once Mané’s partner-in-crime at Liverpool, Salah must now reflect on a rivalry that has taken a fascinating turn. Is he applauding an old friend’s success, or quietly wrestling with the ache of what remains unfulfilled in his own international story?
Cast your mind back to Liverpool’s golden era under Jürgen Klopp. Mané arrived at Anfield in 2016, with Salah following from Roma a year later. Together, they became the engines of Liverpool’s renaissance — a devastating attacking partnership that terrorised defences across Europe. The Champions League triumph in 2019 and the long-awaited Premier League title in 2020 were built on their chemistry, pace and ruthless finishing.
Yet in club football, the spotlight almost always shone brighter on Salah. The “Egyptian King” became a global icon, shattering records and redefining what an African forward could achieve in the Premier League. His popularity soared, and his statistical achievements placed him among the league’s all-time greats.
Mané, perhaps weary of living in that shadow, left Liverpool in 2022. After a brief spell at Bayern Munich, he now plies his trade at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where even playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo has not guaranteed centre stage. Meanwhile, Salah continues to amass goals and accolades in England, his name etched deeper into record books with each passing season.
But numbers, for all their brilliance, do not tell the whole story. There is one prize that Salah has chased but never claimed — the Africa Cup of Nations. And it is here that Mané stands immovable, a mountain Salah has yet to climb.
Twice, remarkably, Mané has led Senegal past Salah’s Egypt on the road to continental glory. In the 2021 final, Senegal prevailed on penalties, with Mané scoring the decisive spot-kick. In the most recent tournament, Senegal again eliminated Egypt in the semi-finals before lifting the trophy. On both occasions, Mané was crowned Player of the Tournament — a testament to his leadership on the biggest stage.
Mané vs Salah at AFCON
| Category | Sadio Mané | Mohamed Salah |
|---|---|---|
| AFCON titles | 2 (2021, 2023*) | 0 |
| Finals/Semi-finals vs each other | 2 wins | 2 losses |
| Player of the Tournament | 2 | 0 |
| Age (2026) | 33 | 33 |
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Salah is now 33, and by the next AFCON in 2027 he will be 35. While another opportunity may still beckon, it will depend on fitness, form and fortune aligning perfectly. Even then, surpassing Mané’s continental legacy would remain an immense challenge.
Mané, the same age, faces no such urgency. He, too, could yet add to his haul. For now, though, he is entitled to celebrate. In the realm of African international football, records fade — but crowns endure. And today, the crown rests firmly on Sadio Mané’s head.