Exclusive: Liverpool fans will love what Sadio Mane did for Senegal fans at AFCON

Sadio Mane is considered one of the best players in the world but the Liverpool star is also one of the nicest human beings due to his benevolence and kindness.

He produced a man of the match performance by scoring and assisting as the Teranga Lions beat Burkina Faso 3-1 to reach the AFCON final on Wednesday.

But you’d be mistaken if you thought that was the best thing he did on the day.

Ahead of the semi-final there was a visible increase in the number of Senegalese fans at the stadium, only for journalists to find out that Mane had flown in 50 of them to watch the game.

According to Senegalese journalist Aliou Faye, who works for the Stade News paper in Dakar, Mane asked his team to fly in 50 fans for the game against Burkina.

Faye said: “Yeah Sadio brought in 50 fans yesterday in the morning and here he will bring in more for the final.

“He is the biggest name in our country and for his people he is always going out of his way to make sure that they get the best things every time he is in town.”

This is not the first time Mane has been in the news for giving back to society as one of his first pay cheques after signing for Liverpool went into building a hospital for the people of Bambali, the town he was born and raised in before moving to Dakar in search of a football career.

He donated half a million pounds to the Senegalese government to build the hospital and has also built a school to help give a bright future to the children born in Bambali.

Back in Liverpool, Mane is a regular face at the central mosque where he goes to practice his Islamic faith and has been seen on a couple of occasions cleaning the facility with other Muslims.

The fame and money that comes with being a professional footballer is always life changing but Mane has always kept in touch with his roots, even if his life has been changed by football.

It will be interesting to hear the number of fans he flies in for the final having seen his kind gesture bring along good fortune and a win against Burkina Faso.

Sadio Mane’s AFCON so far

The Liverpool man has progressively improved as the tournament has travelled with the game against Burkina being his best so far.

With three goals and two assists, Mane is showing up in big moments and deciding games as he pursues his dream of leading Senegal to the first AFCON title in their history.

Ahead of the semi-final, the 29-year-old told LiverpoolWorld he was happy to play anywhere on the pitch as long as it brought victory to his side.

“For me as long as I’m winning then it’s fine for me but of course I know that people are looking for beautiful football and all that,” he said.

“People want footballers to always create chances and score goals but sometimes this is not always impossible and I would not like to just play well and not score goals or win a game.

“It’s my job to run around and be everywhere to try and get the team and if that means going everywhere that is my job and I’m happy to do that.”

Senegal will now take on either Egypt or host nation Cameroon on Sunday for the AFCON trophy.