Senegal coach Pape Thiaw hopes Sadio Mane will reconsider his international retirement plans ahead of the AFCON final against Morocco in Rabat
SENEGAL coach Pape Thiaw hopes Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco will not be Sadio Mane’s last game at the tournament.
Thiaw dismissed the 33-year-old star’s comments about retiring from the competition after the semi-final. “His decision is no longer up to him,” Thiaw told reporters in Rabat. “There is a whole people behind him too and they would like to see him continue.”
Mane had indicated he would not play at another AFCON after this edition. The next tournament is scheduled for 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
“I think he made his decision in the heat of the moment and the country does not agree,” said Thiaw. “We would like to keep him for as long as possible.”
The former Liverpool forward helped Senegal win their first AFCON title in 2022. Defender Moussa Niakhate praised Mane’s longevity and character ahead of his sixth continental finals.
“Sadio is an exceptional player,” said Niakhate. “He just works hard and loves his country.”
Meanwhile, Thiaw expressed anger over his team’s reception upon arriving in the Moroccan capital. The Senegalese Football Federation complained of a “lack of adequate security” which “put the players and staff at risk”.
“What happened yesterday was not normal,” insisted Thiaw. “My players could have been in danger.”
The final pits Africa’s top two ranked teams against each other. Morocco coach Walid Regragui acknowledged the pressure on his side to win a first AFCON title in 50 years on home soil.
“Senegal are a great side,” said Regragui. “The final is 50/50 but maybe it will be 51 percent in our favour with the crowd behind us.”
