Sadio Mane has vowed never to give up his chase for Africa’s best player gong until he lands it.
The Senegalese international found himself in the shadows of teammate Mohamed Salah the previous two years including Tuesday’s awards night in which he finished runner-up at his home in Dakar.
“I will do my best to win the trophy for best player next year. I won’t let go and I will fight for it. I congratulate the winner (Mohamed Salah) and on the collective level, our agreement is very beneficial for Liverpool in our league title bid in England and in the UEFA Champions League,” he said in reaction after coming up second best.
The ex-Southampton wing-wizard earned nomination into the event after spurring 2002 Africa Cup of Nations finalists Senegal into last year’s Russia World Cup, a tournament they exited on grounds of fair-play.
The 26-year-old is generally likened to compatriot El Hadji Diouf in style whose feats of two CAF awards he is determined to match.
Commenting on the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations which Egypt is billed to host fter Cameroon got stripped of the rights, he said: “With the national team, all Senegalese are expecting us to win the ultimate at the next Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, and we will work to achieve that.”
It will be back to business for Mane and table-topping Liverpool this Saturday as The Reds travel out to the American Express Community Stadium up against thirteenth-placed Brighton and Hove Albion.
