Sadio Mane: 'We will play like men'
19 January 2026, Monday 11:49Last Update:
After the legendary final of the African Cup of Nations, Senegal's captain Sadio Mane's words that brought the team back to the field have emerged.
The final of the African Cup of Nations was not just a soccer match, but a battle of wills in which Sadio Mane gave a captaincy lesson. When Senegal was on the verge of retiring against Morocco, Mane's stand helped them win the trophy.
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Senegal's goal was disallowed at 90+3. At 90+8, referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded a controversial penalty in favor of Morocco.Coach Pape Thiaw pulled the team off the pitch in protest against the decision; the players went to the dressing room.
Sadio Mane, who took responsibility at the moment the team dispersed, entered the locker room to convince his friends. "We will play like men!" was Mane's historic sentence that brought his team back to the pitch.
