AFCON 2021: Sadio Mane Warned Against Playing in Senegal's Quarter-Final After Head Injury
FootballLiverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp Finally Reacts to Sadio Mane’s AFCON Success
- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has given Sadio Mane more time to celebrate his Africa Cup of Nations success with Senegal
- Sadio Mane will miss Liverpool's game against Leicester City in the English Premier League on Thursday
- Klopp congratulated the winger who played a key role as Senegal won their first ever AFCON title following victory over Egypt on Sunday
Sadio Mane has been given more time off by Liverpool after leading Senegal to a historic Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Cameroon on Sunday.
Manager Jurgen Klopp disclosed the winger will not be available for the Reds game aganst Leicester City in the English Premier League on Thursday.
Speaking at a pre-match presser for the Leicester game, the German tactician applauded the Senegalese player for his achievement with the national team.
"It means the world to him (AFCON), it means the world to his people, it means the world to Senegal & we respect that a lot & we would never consider to have called back him from there or whatever – let them do what they do in the moment because they deserve it," Klopp said.
"We have text a little bit here and there but he is still in Africa, still in Senegal, celebrating and we will see – Wednesday night or something like that we will send him out. But yes, it was obviously a big tournament and meant the world to him," he added.
Mane scored the winning penalty as Senegal defeated his teammate Mohammed Salah's Egypt 4-2 on penalties.
Mohammed Salah returns to Liverpool after AFCON defeat
Meanwhile, Mohammed Salah has declared he is ready to feature in upcoming games for Liverpool after arriving England just two days after losing the African Cup of Nations final with Egypt.
The Liverpool forward was an integral member of the Pharaohs team at the AFCON and captained the side that lost to Senegal in the final via penalties.
The 29-year-old was pictured arriving the Reds training complex on Tuesday February 8 joining up with the rest of the squad as they prepare for their next fixture against Leicester City.
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