Sadio Mane: Al Nassr Star Builds New Stadium in Hometown of Bambali, Senegal

• Sadio Mane has built a new stadium in his hometown of Bambali
• The Al-Nassr star was present at the inauguration of the facility
• Mane will join Senegal at the 2023 AFCON edition in Ivory Coast

Sadio Mane has extended his developmental works in Senegal by building a new stadium for the people of his hometown, Bambali.

The Al-Nassr star returned home to formally open the facility ahead of his nation's training camp for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

One year ago, Mane was spotted playing on a muddy pitch in Bambali after a tough season in Europe, which saw him depart Bayern Munich.

Photos from the community game he attended went viral at the time, with the Al-Nassr star pledging to improve the pitch for the people of his hometown.

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Football

Mane fulfilled that promise, joined by high-ranking members of society to open the stadium in Bambali at a lovely ceremony, as spotted on social media.

"I am really very happy to be with you today and to welcome you to my home, to my native village of Bambali, where it all began,” he said, as quoted by Wiw Sport.

"It is with immense pride and a heart full of joy that I stand before you on this FIFA standard football field, which has a lot of meaning for me. This is not just a gift from me to my beloved village. Above all, it is the symbol of our unity, our strength and our passion for football."

The 31-year-old will lead the Teranga Lions to AFCON in Ivory Coast with the objective of defending the trophy they won in Cameroon in 2022. Senegal have been drawn in Group C alongside Cameroon, Guinea, and the Gambia.

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Mane, meanwhile, is enjoying a good season in the Saudi Pro League, having scored 12 goals across all competitions.

Sadio Mane headlines Senegal's AFCON squad

Sports Brief previously reported that reigning African champions, Senegal have named their final squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The veteran duo of Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly headline Aliou Cisse's squad that will be on the plane to Ivory Coast later this month.

The Lions of Teranga will be looking to defend the crown they won in 2022 and much of the squad that lifted that title have been called upon.