Senegal’s Sadio Mane Shines for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia As CAF Awards Commence in Morocco

• Sadio Mane scored his third goal of the King Cup competition as Al-Nassr beat Al-Shabab
• The attacker scored on the same night the 2023 CAF Awards were taking place in Morocco
• Mane won the African Player of the Year award in 2022 but was unable to defend his title

Sadio Mane might not have been in Morocco for the CAF Awards on Monday night, but he is still making headlines.

The Senegalese forward got his name in the news and on the score sheet when Al-Nassr took on Al-Shabab in the King Cup.

Last year’s winner of the African Player of the Year award at the CAF Awards was not shortlisted among the final three for this year’s title but showed off his class in Saudi Arabia.

The former Liverpool attacker finished off a beautiful counter-attack from a corner to score Al-Nassr’s second goal of the game.

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His goal in the 27th minute also meant that he has scored in every round of the cup competition so far this edition, Transfermarkt noted.

Al-Nassr eventually went on to win the game 5-2, with Mane also providing the assist for the fifth and final goal.

Mane can’t defend his title

While the former Bayern Munich man won the coveted award last year, he was not shortlisted as one of the three finalists this year.

That honour went to Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, CAF confirmed.

After an injury ruled him out of the 2022 World Cup and a failed stint at Bayern saw him move to Saudi Arabia, Mane could not replicate the performances that earned him the previous title.

Ronaldo confuses Super Eagles star with Mane

Sports Brief also previously reported on Ronaldo confusing a Nigerian international with Mane during Al-Nassr's win over Al Akhdoud.

CAF Player of the Year Award's final three are Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen and Achraf Hakimi

Football

In the game, the Knights of Najd secured a 3-0 win courtesy of goals from Sami Al-Najei and a second-half brace from the Portuguese star.

Mane and Ronaldo formed a great partnership during the Saudi Pro League match and followed it up with a hilarious moment afterwards.