Senegalese striker Sadio Mane has been named the 2022 African Player of the Year.
Sadio Mane managed to beat the strongest candidate who was a teammate while still defending Liverpool, namely Mohamed Salah.
The Bayen Munich striker is ahead of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Chelsea’s Eduardo Mendy.
Sadio Mane has the upper hand over the two rivals after successfully leading his country Senegal to win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Sadio Mane gave a touching statement when he was named the 2022 African Footballer of the Year.
“I dedicate this award to young people in Senegal. I am very emotional and have no words to express what is in my heart,” Mane said.
The Senegal captain is included in the list of African players who can win consecutive titles.
Sadio Mane becomes the fifth player after Yaya Toure, Samuel Eto’o, El Hadji Diouf and Mohamed Salah. Sadio Mane won his second in a row after winning his first in 2019.
Because in 2020 and 2021 it will not be carried out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mane’s success brought him out of the shadow of former team-mate Mohamed Salah.
Plus, after Mane led Senegal to win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and enter the 2022 World Cup finals.
According to Mane, his relationship with Salah is fine.
“I think the media are always trying (to make) things worse,” he said.
Mane revealed that there was nothing between him and Mohamed Salah.
The news circulated quite fast after he won the 2021 African Cup of Nations.
Because in the final, Senegal won against Egypt driven by his teammate at the time, Mohamed Salah.
Mane said that he has a very good relationship with Salah.
The Senegalese captain thought the media had cornered him too much. As is known that the duo Mane and Salah were able to bring Liverpool to victory.
The duo of Mane and Salah managed to bring the FA Cup, Carabo Cup, Premier League and Champions League trophies to Liverpool’s locker.
Sadio Mane’s brilliant trend is predicted to continue at Bayern Munich. Mane immediately scored on his debut match with Bayern Munich.
Sadio Mane even scored a goal when Bayern Munich faced DC United in a pre-season match.
