Why AFCON should put Sadio Mane in top form for Liverpool
By CJ Errickson
A Senegal’s AFCON championship team member returns to Liverpool FC this week with a trophy. After being named MVP of the African tournament after his team knocked out Mo Salah’s Egypt in a thrilling penalty kick affair, Sadio Mane displayed that he is still a top-class winger. He outscored his Egyptian counterpart in the tournament and was the deciding factor in the final moments of Sunday’s championship match.
As a result, he sent both his side and the entire nation of Senegal into a frenzy. Ultimately, this should be an incredible boost to his confidence moving forward.
Sadio Mane was in a rut in the EPL before AFCON; that should not be the case anymore.
Sometimes, football is more of a mental game than a physical one. Players go through highs and lows, and before his departure for the AFCON tournament, Sadio was in a deep rut that was uncharacteristic of him compared to seasons past.
This is the worst barren run of Sadio Mane’s Liverpool career. His goal drought now spans 808 minutes — that’s 13 and a half hours of football. Confidence levels have taken a battering. His miss was a pivotal moment on a bleak night for #LFC v Leicester. https://t.co/330vvyob3M
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) December 29, 2021
Despite the lows, Mane kept his head up and shined for his home nation has ultimately sent his country into a frenzy for their first-ever AFCON championship since the tournament started in 1957.
Sadio Mane has arrived in Senegal with the AFCON trophy and look at the crowds! 😲 pic.twitter.com/MBnCPBsr2g
— Forever Red (@ForeverRedUK) February 7, 2022
This win means everything to him because he wanted to make his people proud. With him riding high off these emotions, it can only spell great things for his return to the Premier League. The question is, when does he return?
Mane’s return to Liverpool may be delayed compared to Mo Salah’s.
Unfortunately, there had to be a winner between the two Reds in the AFCON finale. While Salah aims to play this Thursday against Leicester City, Sadio’s return may be delayed due to the country essentially making a holiday/palooza after the nation’s first-ever title in this tournament. Senegalese president, Macky Sall, made this Monday a public holiday and will undoubtedly have many festivities and activities with Mane and the team in the days to come.
https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1490733242508582912
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Regardless, the AFCON MVP deserves to celebrate this occasion. He should be back to Anfield within the next week, and when he returns – don’t expect any more goal-scoring droughts.