Africa Cup of Nations | Sadio Mane’s finest victory: The ball wizard who chose peace | Football News
The ever-smiling Senegalese forward Sadio Mane has won everything club and continental football could offer a footballer,; he has built a school and hospital in his remote village of Bambali; he used to discreetly clean toilets of the mosque he used to visit in Toxteth during his time in England with Liverpool; he has netted spectacular goals, pouncing like a phantom blur on the left and selflessly orchestrated several others. Yet, his legacy would be that he was the symbol of peace and calm on one of football’s wildest nights. When his teammates revolted and walked off after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time of the African Cup of Nations final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, moments after a goal was denied; when the home fans, multitudes in reds, threatened to leap out of the seats and assault the Senegalese fans players in protest; when pure pandemonium broke out, he remained a beacon of peace. Unswayed by the angst of his shivering teammates, he jostled to the stands …









