Sadio Mane has offered a positive update from his hospital bed after the Liverpool forward was involved in a sickening clash of heads during Senegal’s latest Africa Cup of Nations clash.
The Lions of Teranga, went into their round-of-16 ties vs Cape Verde as heavy favourites and managed to progress following a 2-0 victory.
But there was concern for Mane, who was forced off after a nasty head clash between him and Cape Verde ‘keeper Vozinha.
The Blue Sharks’ stopper was sent off for his part in the incident after he flew out of the penalty area to try and stop the onrushing Mane.
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Mane ran through on goal after latching onto an Edouard Mendy clearance and narrowly got to the ball before Vozinha, leading to a thudding clash of heads.
Both players went down in a heap with the Reds forward appearing to be knocked unconscious for at least a fraction of time.
As the two received treatment, VAR decided that Vozinha’s mistimed challenge was worthy of a red, reducing the underdogs to nine men.
They were already facing Mission Improbable after Patrick Andrade was dismissed in the first half for a lunge on Pape Gueye.
Just moments after receiving treatment, Mane came back on the field to open the scoring with a stunning, curling effort which found the top corner.
However, while his Senegal team-mates celebrated the opener, a clearly distressed Mane dropped back to the floor.
Medical staff swiftly made their way onto the field of play, with the 29-year-old leaving the pitch under his own esteem, to be replaced by Bamba Dieng.
Mane’s collapse led many to question the decision to allow back into the game, with FIFA’s protocol stating that if a player lies motionless for more than five seconds, or drops unconscious, they should be immediately substituted.
However, Mirror Football understands that Liverpool are in constant dialogue with the medical staff of the national teams that their players represent and do not intend to intervene with their prognosis.
Senegal boss Aliou Cisse said his player “felt faint, his head was spinning and he had to go there [hospital].”
Hours after the full-time whistle, Mane uploaded a picture onto his social media account which showed the player alongside Vozinha, with his thumbs up.
The picture was accompanied with the caption: “All is well, thank you for all of the messages.”
Senegal will now face either Mali or Equatorial Guinea in the last eight on Sunday, although Mane’s participation in that encounter is in major doubt.
