Khaberni - Sadio Mane, the captain of the Senegal national team, revealed the final stages of his international career following the triumph at the 2025 African Nations Cup, confirming that his long journey with the "Lions of Teranga" is nearing its end after a fruitful career.
Mane explained to beIN Sports that his participation in the 2026 World Cup would be his last international appearance for his national team, stating that the decision to retire was not made spontaneously but was the result of deep reflection and a clear desire to end his career at the peak of his performance and success.
The captain of Senegal noted that he had already made his decision regarding the African Nations Cup, considering the 2025 edition to be his final farewell at the continental level, before he later finalized his decision to make the 2026 World Cup the official conclusion of his international career.
Mane expressed his great pride in what the team achieved during the tournament, confirming that winning the title against the Morocco national team was not easy, coming after a highly challenging match, decided by minute details and mental and physical stamina until the final moments of the game.
The star of Al-Nassr revealed precise details from the final of the tournament, explaining that he completely refused the idea of the Senegal national team players walking off the pitch after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, confirming that he was surprised when some players headed towards the locker rooms, considering this behavior unacceptable.
Mane insisted on bringing his teammates back to the field after listening to opinions inside the stadium, emphasizing that completing the match was a crucial necessity, especially since the eyes of the world were on the final, and the image of football in Africa was at stake at that sensitive moment.
He added that the atmosphere inside the stadium was extremely tense, but he chose to handle the situation with the calm of a leader, believing that major matches are decided on the green field, not by withdrawing or protesting outside the competitive framework.
Mane indeed intervened to bring the players back to the field, allowing the match to continue. Brahim Diaz then missed the penalty shot, and the game went into extra time, where the Senegal national team managed to score the winning goal through Pape Gueye in the 94th minute, announcing a new triumph added to the history of the "Lions of Teranga."
