Sadio Mane made a special request to Liverpool after he and his team partner Mohamed Salah returned from the Africa Cup of Nations.
According to the “Canal Football Club” program, which is shown on the French channel “Canal +”, Mane asked the “Liver” not to celebrate him after winning with Senegal the African World Cup title in the first match in the Premier League at home against Norwich City, which ended with Liverpool winning 3-1, in which Mane and Salah scored two of Liverpool's three goals.
The program added that Mane asked for this out of respect for Salah, because he did not want to hurt his feelings after the Egyptian star reached the final with his country, and was close to winning her title and achieving his first international title with his country.
The two stars of the "Reds" competed face to face in the final of the competition earlier this month, where "Senegal Mane" outperformed "Egypt Salah" in the final match of the tournament that was held in Cameroon.
Opta.. Salah and Mane scored together in the same match in the Premier League for the thirtieth time, more than any other duo 👑.. pic.twitter.com/t96m6JCbVR
- Egyptian Professionals EgyProf (@egypro18) February 20, 2022
It was Mane who took the decisive penalty - after he missed a penalty in the first half of the match - to give the Senegalese team the victory, and the first title for his country ever.
The final left very contradictory feelings between this duo, as Mane returned to Liverpool as the African champion, while Salah returned empty-handed.
But when asked about the upcoming meeting between Senegal and Egypt in the crucial matches of the World Cup qualifiers next month, Mane revealed that he and Salah do not think about it, even keeping silent when it comes to discussing the final of the African Nations.
It is enough #Liverpool proud to have #Mohamed_Salah and Mane in the strongest African teams 😍
pic.twitter.com/JoBZEDylM4
— Liverpool and History 6 ️⃣🏆 (@AbuMuqrin) February 6, 2022
Mane said in a media interview in response to a question about the two matches to qualify for the World Cup next month, "Salah and I do not talk about it. I think I am still thinking about the African Cup, but they are also two important matches that mean a lot to me and my people."
He continued, "If we can qualify - and we will do everything to achieve that - this is very important for me, my teammates and my country, because qualifying for the World Cup is the dream of any footballer. We will be well prepared and do our best to win, because it is really important."
Mane went on to reveal that he remains silent and does not talk about his victory with his country in the African Nations, out of respect for his Egyptian colleague, who suffered a great heartbreak in the final.
"So far you won't believe me. But we haven't talked about it, because I know it's definitely still frustrating," he continued.
The honest competition between Salah and Mane, between two great giants ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1nU2gpYHXP
— Achraf Ben Ayad (@Benayadachraf) February 6, 2022
However, not everything about the Africa Cup of Nations is completely off the table.
Mane revealed that he and Salah mocked the so-called attempt of the latter to play with his nerves before he paid a failed penalty in the first half of the final.
Moments before the penalty kick was taken, Mane saw Salah talking with goalkeeper Mohamed Abu Jabal, and gave him instructions about Mane's favorite angle.
Although the events of the final match are still a little difficult for Salah, Mane says they remembered the funny side of the failed penalty.
"We were talking about this yesterday and laughing about it," the Senegal international concluded.