Mamadou Niang has revealed the crucial conversation he had with Sadio Mane that prevented the Africa Cup of Nations final from descending into chaos, as Senegal players threatened to walk off following a late penalty decision.
Senegal eventually went on to beat Morocco 1-0 in the final on January 18 to lift the trophy, but the match was on the brink of being abandoned amid protests from the Lions of Teranga.
Niang, who was present on the sidelines, said he stepped in to speak directly to Mane as confusion spread among the players. Speaking on Canal+ Afrique on Monday, the former Marseille striker recalled the captain’s uncertainty at the moment tensions escalated.
“When the players started to leave the field, he had a look of doubt, he didn’t understand what was happening,” Niang explained regarding the Al-Nassr forward’s reaction. “At that moment, I am close to the touchline. He looks at me and says: ‘Mamad, what do I do?’”
Niang said Mane was seeking reassurance, but he made it clear that finishing the match was essential.
“I wanted to tell him that he had the answer inside him. But he just wanted to have support,” Niang told the broadcaster. “I told him very quickly: ‘You must not leave the pitch, we see everything that is happening, I can understand that there is anger, frustration but you have to finish this match, it is perhaps your last AFCON and you cannot go out like that. If we have to lose, we will lose, but not like that, we will lose like men’.”
That exchange proved decisive, with Senegal staying on the pitch and ultimately securing a dramatic AFCON triumph.
