Legendary Cameroonian football icon Samuel Eto’o has showered praise on Sadio Mané for his decisive leadership during the chaotic closing stages of the AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco.
The final, played on Sunday, 18 January 2026, was thrown into controversy after a 90+7 minute penalty was awarded to Morocco, a decision that sparked outrage among Senegalese players and officials. In protest, members of the Senegal team began heading toward the dressing room, threatening to abandon the match.
Softfootball gathered, at that critical moment, it was Sadio Mané who intervened, urging his teammates to return to the pitch and continue the game, a move that ultimately preserved Senegal’s participation and led to their 1–0 extra-time victory and second AFCON title.
Reacting to Mané’s actions, Eto’o described the Senegal captain as a symbol of leadership and moral strength for African football. These were Samuel Eto’o’s exact words:
Sadio Mané not only contributed to winning the tournament but also to saving the image of the national team, because leaving the pitch would have had very serious consequences for Senegal.
Sadio is one of the greatest heroes of our continent, and I send him special respect for his morals and leadership qualities. I am honoured to consider him a friend, and his role in leading his teammates to victory was exceptional.
I hope he achieves another African Footballer Of The Year because what he did, especially his behaviour yesterday, is the act of a great leader.
Eto’o’s comments underline how pivotal Mané’s intervention was, not just for the outcome of the final, but for avoiding potential sanctions that could have followed had Senegal abandoned the match.
Samuel Eto’o himself is widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest footballers, having won four African Player of the Year awards, enjoyed historic club success with Barcelona and Inter Milan, claimed two AFCON titles and Olympic gold with Cameroon, and now serves as President of the Cameroonian Football Federation.
Mané’s conduct during the AFCON 2025 final has since been celebrated across the football world, with many observers citing it as a defining example of leadership beyond the captain’s armband and a key reason he was named AFCON 2025 Best Player.
