Who is Aisha Tamba? Everything you need to know about Sadio Mane’s secretive relationship with teenage wife

Sadio Mane has welcomed his first child with his teenage wife Aisha Tamba after she gave birth to a baby girl named Animata. 

She was recently baptised in the couple’s home country of Senegal in a ceremony that took place in the capital city of Dakar. 

Former Liverpool winger Mane, 32, moved to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in the summer of 2023.

His relationship with Aisha has been the subject of intense interest given the age gap between the couple along with their desire to keep the romance away from the public eye before they tied the knot.  

So, who is Aisha Tamba? How did she meet Mane and how long have the pair been in a relationship? 

Read on below for everything you need to know about Sadio Mane’s teenage wife and their marriage. 

Who is Aisha Tamba?

Aisha Tamba is thought to have spent her entire life in Senegal – the country in which she was born and raised. 

Her father, Madou Tamba, is a building company boss who has overseen many of Mane’s charitable construction projects in the area where the footballer grew up. 

Mane has spent at least £1million on helping his poverty stricken home town of Bambali, paying for a new school, health centre, fuel station, a post office, and most recently a mini football stadium. 

His money has also provided laptops for his local school, a 4G network for the entire community to access the internet and a donation of €70 per month for every family in his old neighbourhood, with the fee being equivalent to the current minimum wage in Senegal. 

When did Sadio Mane meet Aisha Tamba? 

Reports claim Aisha ‘was long intended for the 31-year-old footballer since her teenage years’ though it is not known exactly how long they have been dating – with the legal age of consent in Senegal being 16.

Footage from a 2019 interview with Orange Senegal showed Mane being posed a range of questions, including about the prospect of marriage.

The forward revealed he had refused suggestion from his mum and uncle to marry a 14-year-old girl.

Mane remarked: ‘No, in fact I wanted to get married but you know that marriage is a bit complicated.

Mane previously revealed in a 2019 interview that he has refused a suggestion from his mum and uncle to marry a 14-year-old girl

‘I would have liked to get married, but you know that with parents also, that’s another thing, they are complicated.

‘I remember one day, my mum and my uncle wanted me to marry [as it is done in the villages] a 14-year-old girl.

‘[Calling to someone off camera] Idy, it was 14 right? I believe that she will be 15 this year but I had refused.

‘But no worries, if I mind my soul mate, I will get married straight away.’

According to Sports Brief, Mane first knew of Aisha when she was 16 but he did not approach her formally at the time.

However, he reportedly communicated his intentions to his uncle, a friend of the family, which led to their eventual union.

It was reported by Pulse Sports that Mane had taken care of Aisha’s bills when she was still attending school, although they only later started formally dating.

A source told MailOnline: ‘Sadio and Aissata’s romance blossomed after his agent met her father.

Mane allegedly first knew of Aisha when she was 16 but it was claimed that he did not approach her formally at the time

After scoring for Al-Nassr on Friday, Mane dedicated the goal to his new baby daughter by carrying out a cradle-rocking celebration

Sadio Mane and his wife Aisha Tamba celebrated as she graduated from school in June 2024

Tamba was said to have reacted with shock as she reportedly obtained a diploma with a passable distinction

‘Madou Tamba is a respected construction manager in Senegal and was tasked by Sadio’s agent to oversee the footballer’s various building projects in the country.

‘That meeting played a key role in Sadio meeting Aissata. He worked closely with her father. The two men developed a trusting working relationship and through that relationship Sadio was introduced to his daughter.

‘Everyone in the village of Bambali is delighted for them. Sadio is a good man. He has given lots of money to the people of Bambali and he deserves to be happy. He hasn’t stopped smiling since the wedding and they both look so pleased.’

Aisha only left school eight months ago to join Mane in Saudi Arabia following his move to Al-Nassr from Liverpool in 2023 – with his wife having previously studied at the Cabis School in Grand Mbao Baobab, Senegal according to reports. 

Videos that emerged on social media in June 2024 showed Mane in a jubilant mood as Aisha received her baccalaureate, the academic qualification that students obtain at the end of their secondary education.

The footage was recorded by her father, according to Senenews, with Aisha reacting with shock at her results being announced at the Al-Nassr star’s home.

Aisha reportedly obtained her diploma with a passable distinction, with Mane and her father congratulating her on her success.

When did Sadio Mane get married? 

Aisha only left school eight months ago to join Mane in Saudi Arabia following his move to Al-Nassr from Liverpool in 2023

Mane and Tamba were believed to have tied the knot on January 7 last year in Keur Massar, an area in the capital city of Dakar – with pictures from the wedding exclusively shown by MailSport at the time. 

Images showed Aissata arriving by car at the ceremony in a white long sleeved lacey silk white top with a long skirt combo and a matching head-dress.

Other pictures published on Instagram by photography company @Magvision_Evens_Officiel show her posing happily with Mane. 

She can also be seen showing off her henna-painted hands in a tight-fitting mermaid style dress with a silver patterned trim, matched with a chunky gold necklace with earrings.

Aissata is also pictured in a third ensemble of an ornate duck egg coloured dress, topped off with a matching beret-style hat surrounded by thin netting. 

While the pair did confirm their nuptials – they did not end up going on a honeymoon together, as exclusively revealed by MailOnline in January last year. 

This was because she was required to return to school in preparation for her final exams, after footage posted online showed her being greeted by classmates. 

Mane and Tamba were believed to have tied the knot on January 7 last year in Keur Massar, an area in the capital city of Dakar

Aisha was instructed by her family to focus on her studies ahead of her final baccalaureate exams this summer, an academic qualification that students obtain at the end of their secondary education.

Videos on social media showed the rapturous reception she received with pupils chanting ‘Sadio amenda jabar – Aissaa amena jekeur’, which reportedly translates as ‘Madame Sadio Mane’.

Despite marrying such a high-profile individual at a young age, Aisha asserted that Mane’s wealth and fame would not change her ‘humble ways.’ 

Speaking through a relative, she told MailOnline: ‘I am looking forward to my new life and I know that it will be very different. But I do not feel any pressure because Sadio’s fame and money will not change me. This is not what I’m interested in. I will remain a humble person committed to my faith.

‘I’m not used to having so much attention on me because we are a very private family. We don’t like to show off and speak about our personal lives. I am a very down to earth person, this is how I was raised, and nothing will be different just because of this marriage.’

She added: ‘But I’m very honoured to now be Mrs Mane.’

Welcoming a new addition to the family 

They baptised their newborn daughter in Senegal last week in a ceremony attended by family members including Tamba’s mother (dressed in yellow)

The baptism was a joyous occasion, with guests dancing and clapping during the ceremony

Tamba recently gave birth to the couple’s first child – with Mane paying tribute to their new arrival with his goal celebration against Al Kholood last Friday. 

The pair also arranged a naming ceremony for their new daughter Animata in their native Senegal.

The traditional ‘bapteme’ naming ceremony took place in Dakar and was celebrated at Mane’s uncle’s house.

Tamba’s mother made a grand arrival in a traditional yellow dress, while her father dressed in all-white for the joyous occasion.

A video from the ceremony showed family members dancing and clapping as they celebrated Animata’s baptism. 

Mane’s uncle, Ibrahima Toure, then made a statement to mark the baptism on the steps outside his home where he paid tribute to the footballer and his family.