Liverpool’s Senegalese forward Sadio Mane dreams of winning the Africa Cup of Nations, and is ready to swap his UEFA Champions League Glory for continental triumph.
The 27-year-old enjoyed a stellar campaign with the Reds, in which he was crowned joint Premier League top scorer with 22 goals.
He however wants to win AFCON more.
“Winning with my country, which has never won the Africa Cup of Nations, that would be magnificent,” France Football quotes Mane.
“I am even ready to swap a Champions League to win an Africa Cup of Nations.
“The return to Dakar would be extraordinary. This is my biggest and most crazy dream.”
Mane sat out the Teranga Lions’ opening match against Tanzania to serve a suspension, though the West Africans still went on to win 2-0.
Speaking ahead of his side’s next game against Algeria, he expressed confidence that they can live up to their favourites tag.
“It is up to us to achieve something great,” Mane said.
“Of course we are one of the favourites, we cannot hide from that. But this standing is not enough to go all the way.”
The 2019 AFCON has already provided fans with some entertaining games, as teams battle to make the best of their opening matches in order to place themselves in better positions for qualification into the next stages.
The Group games will continue until 2 July, after which the tournament will move on to the knock-out stages.
After Algeria, Senegal will play Kenya in their final Group stage match.
