‘We were talking about this yesterday and laughing about it, it was quite funny’
Sadio Mane has revealed that Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah has joked with him about his penalty miss in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mane guided Senegal to their first ever AFCON title when he scored the winning spot-kick in a dramatic penalty shootout win against Salah’s Egypt.
While the former Southampton man was able to enjoy the limelight after converting his spot-kick in the shootout, the winger did miss a penalty in normal time – with Salah getting involved in some mind games prior to Mane’s unsuccessful penalty.
As he prepared to take his spot-kick, Mane saw Salah speaking to Egypt goalkeeper Gabaski, appearing to instruct him about which way his Reds teammate was likely to go. Mane quickly got involved in the conversation and attempted to throw the shot-stopper off by telling him where he was actually going to put his penalty.
Although the result of the final is still likely to be on Salah’s mind, Mane has revealed that they have been able seen the funny side about his failed penalty kick.
“We have mentioned when I missed the penalty,” Mane told the Que Golazo YouTube channel.
“He [Salah] said: ‘why did you come to see the goalkeeper?’ and I said, ‘because you’ve been talking to him and I’m sure you will play mind-games, so I will play mind-games as well.’
“I saw him talking and I’m sure he was not saying anything much so it was fine to just say it was mind games and I want to be more fun than them, so I go ‘Mo, I will put it in the right side, tell him I will put it in the right side.’
“We were talking about this yesterday and laughing about it, it was quite funny.”
https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1493861779822239747
The 29-year-old also stated that he and Salah had not spoken specifically about the result of the final, adding that they are ‘not even thinking about it’ and have a pact of silence when it comes to discussing it.
He added: “Me and Mo Salah don’t even talk about it.
“I think that I’m still thinking about my African Cup, but it’s also an important game that means a lot to me and my people.”
AFCON winners Senegal and Egypt will face-off again next month in a crucial World Cup qualifier.
Related links:
- Sadio Mane reveals what he said to Mohamed Salah after Senegal beat Egypt in AFCON final
- Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting ‘felt disrespected’ by Cameroon boss at AFCON
- Senegal win AFCON for the first time with penalty shootout triumph against Egypt
