The veteran is known for his sense of responsibility And it was apparent as his Senegal teammates threatened to quit African’s football’s showpiece
Sadio Mané has done many great things for Senegal and for Senegalese football, but what he did on Sunday evening, in what he confirmed would be his last Cup of Nations game, was perhaps greater than his winning goal in Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, greater than his penalty to win the World Cup qualifying play-off against Egypt in 2022, greater even than his decisive penalty in the 2021 final.
When Senegal stormed off the pitch in protest at the award of a penalty against them eight minutes into injury-time at the end of the Cup of Nations final, African football faced a crisis. For this to happen at all was embarrassing, for it to happen in the final of the confederation’s showpiece would have been a humiliation – not least because many may have felt that Senegal had a point. Refereeing has been a topic of discussion in this tournament in a way it should never be.
This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition.
Continue reading…The veteran is known for his sense of responsibility And it was apparent as his Senegal teammates threatened to quit African’s football’s showpieceSign up for Soccer with Jonathan Wilson hereSadio Mané has done many great things for Senegal and for Senegalese football, but what he did on Sunday evening, in what he confirmed would be his last Cup of Nations game, was perhaps greater than his winning goal in Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, greater than his penalty to win the World Cup qualifying play-off against Egypt in 2022, greater even than his decisive penalty in the 2021 final.When Senegal stormed off the pitch in protest at the award of a penalty against them eight minutes into injury-time at the end of the Cup of Nations final, African football faced a crisis. For this to happen at all was embarrassing, for it to happen in the final of the confederation’s showpiece would have been a humiliation – not least because many may have felt that Senegal had a point. Refereeing has been a topic of discussion in this tournament in a way it should never be.This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition. Continue reading…
