Sadio Mane was seen celebrating with his wife and child after playing a key role in Senegal’s African Cup of Nations triumph – after ensuring the final resumed following their protest.
Mane pictured with his 20-year-old wife Aisha Tamba and their first child following the dramatic final.
They were reunited as Mane enjoyed a dream AFCON swansong, having announced the tournament would be his final appearance at the continental showpiece.
Senegal had earned a 1-0 victory after extra-time over Morocco in one of the most dramatic finals in football history.
Manager Pape Thiaw had directed his players off the pitch in protest over a late penalty awarded to Morocco in the dying minutes of normal time, just minutes after Senegal had seen a goal disallowed.
There was a near 16-minute delay between the awarding of the penalty and the stop kick being taken, with clashes occurring between fans and riot police in Rabat amid the controversy.
Sadio Mane was joined by his 20-year-old wife Aisha Tamba, left, and their first child after he helped Senegal win the African Cup of Nations
Mane had enjoyed the dream swansong in his final AFCON by lifting the trophy in Rabat
The 33-year-old also earned praise for his role in convincing his Senegal team-mates to resume the final after their protest over the awarding of a penalty to Morocco
Mane had helped ensure the final resumed with the Senegal talisman having beckoned his side back onto the pitch.
Morocco star Brahim Diaz saw his Panenka penalty saved in the final kick of normal time, with Senegal eventually winning the final 1-0 in extra-time through a stunning Pape Gueye strike.
Former Liverpool star Mane was named player of the tournament following the final, while the 33-year-old was lauded for his role in convincing his side to resume the match.
Mane was ultimately able to celebrate a second AFCON triumph of his career, having also been part of Senegal’s victorious side back in 2019.
He was joined by Tamba and their child post-match in Senegal’s dressing room after the triumph.
Mane had tied the knot with Tamba in 2024 in Keur Massar, an area in Senegal’s capital city of Dakar, just six days before the start of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
The pair had kept their relationship silent before getting married but revealed all after the big day, which was attended by friends, family and fellow footballers.
Tamba was still a student when they met, but Mane reportedly vowed to marry her as soon as they started dating.
Mane was named as the player of the tournament, with the 33-year-old scoring twice and playing a vital role for Senegal on their path to glory
Mane, 33, tied the knot with Tamba, 20, in 2024 and welcomed their first child last year
They welcomed their first child last year, 14 months after the wedding, with a baby girl born in March.
Mane had been allowed to lift the trophy by Senegal’s captain Kalidou Koulibaly, with the gesture acknowledging his final AFCON appearance and his stunning legacy in African football.
His legacy had been enhanced by convincing his Senegal side to resume the final, with Mane telling reporters post-match he would rather have lost than present a bad image of African football.
‘Football is something special, the world was watching, the world loves football and I think football is a pleasure so we have to give a good image for football,’ Mane said, according to the BBC.
‘I think it would be crazy to not play this game because what, the referee gave a penalty and we go out of the game?
‘I think that would be the worst thing especially in African football. I’d rather lose than this kind of thing happen to our football.
‘I think it’s really bad. Football should not stop for even ten minutes but what can we do? We have to accept that we did but the good thing is that we came back and we played the game and what happened happened.’
