Sadio Mané walked back into Al-Nassr training on Friday not as a regular squad member, but as a national icon carrying the weight of another historic triumph. Fresh from captaining Senegal to their second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years, Mané was welcomed with laughter, applause and warm embraces from Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates.
The 33-year-old winger arrived still dressed in his Senegal kit, a quiet but powerful reminder of what he had just achieved. Al-Nassr captured the moment in a club video titled “Welcoming back our champion,” showing a relaxed, smiling Mané soaking in the admiration of the squad after Senegal’s dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over Morocco in the final.
Mané’s influence at AFCON went far beyond the armband. He was named Player of the Tournament after delivering two goals and two assists, leading by example in a campaign defined by resilience and composure under pressure. As Al-Nassr’s training ground briefly turned into a celebration space, the message was clear. Their star had returned not just fit and ready, but crowned once again as one of Africa’s defining football figures.