Liverpool star Sadio Mane has a stadium named in his honour in his home region of Sedhiou following Senegal’s success at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), confirmed Mayor of Sedhiou Abdoulaye Diop.
Mane was one of the top performers at Africa’s showpiece and scored the winning penalty in the shootout in the final against Egypt to give Senegal their maiden Afcon title.
On Monday, tons of thousands of fans lined the streets of the capital Dakar to await the arrival of the Lions of Teranga and celebrate the victory. At the same time, the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, gave the players money and real estate and awarded them the country’s highest order.
“Mane has honoured Senegal, the region of Sedhiou and the whole (state) of Casamance,” the city’s mayor, Abdoulaye Diop, told Senegalese outlet Leral.
“I would like to give the name of Sadio Mane to the Stadium of Sedhiou, to express the recognition of all the daughters and sons of the region towards a man who made the whole humanity aware of Bambali and its regional capital, Sedhiou.
“Sadio Mane really deserves this gift.”
Sedhiou is home to less than 25,000 people and has been made famous by Mane’s exploits with Liverpool and the national team. The stadium bearing his name is set to be completed by 2023.
