Sadio Mane has sent a message to Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah after helping Senegal qualify for the 2022 World Cup at Egypt's expense, little over a month after beating the Pharaohs in the Africa Cup of Nations final. The Reds' number 10 scored the winning spot-kick in the shoot-out on Tuesday night to send the Teranga Lions to this winter's finals in Qatar.
Penalties had been required to separate Senegal and Egypt in the AFCON final after a 0-0 draw, with Mane also scoring the winner on that occasion, with the game already decided before Salah was able to step up for a spot-kick of his own.
This time, the Egyptian King took his country's first effort, after a 1-1 aggregate draw, but blazed his strike over the bar after being blinded by a barrage of laser pens from the home fans.
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Speaking after the game, Mane was delighted to help Senegal qualify for only their third-ever World Cup finals appearance. And when asked what he would say to Salah when back at Liverpool, the forward admitted he had been luckier than his Reds team-mate to emerge victorious both times.
"I won twice and he lost twice, I was luckier to come out on top," the 29-year-old told ONTime Sports, as quoted by KingFut. “I am very proud that we won the Africa Cup of Nations and now qualified for the World Cup, it’s a dream I had.
“I believe it was a difficult game for both teams. Our fans pushed us to win and we didn’t stop fighting. We knew the game wouldn’t be easy but we pressed to score.”
Salah and Mane will be back on the same side on Saturday lunchtime when Liverpool resume their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple at home to Watford.
