Sports

Voice of the people: Sadio Mane claims he will do what Senegalese people want on his transfer from Liverpool

Published

2 years ago

June 5, 2022

Senegal national team captain, Sadio Mane has left his departure from Liverpool in the hands of his countrymen amid speculations that he is set to leave the English club for perennial German champions, Bayern Munich.

Before the Champions League final against Real Madrid, Mane had stirred the hornet’s nest when he promised to announce his decision after the final, but Liverpool’s defeat to the Spanish side delayed the 30-year-old confirming his intentions and has since remained silent over his next move.

The Senegal international who established himself alongside fellow African, Mohammed Salah, as one of the most important players in Liverpool in his six years spell at the club, is however, reported to be unhappy with his low pay of just £100,000 a week despite his contributions to the club’s success over the years.

And after six highly successful and trophy laden years at Anfield, Mane appears to be on the move with Bayern rumoured to be courting him to replace the want away Robert Lewandowski.

Quizzed on his Liverpool situation shortly before Senegal thumped Benin Republic 3-0 in Afcon qualifiers in Dakar on Saturday, the star striker who bagged a hat trick in the match said his fate would be influenced by the wishes of his countrymen and women.

“Like everyone else, I’m on social media and I see the comments. Isn’t it between 60 to 70% of Senegalese want me to leave Liverpool? I will do what they want.

‘We will see soon! Don’t be in a hurry because we will see this together. The future will tell us.’

After the match, another journalist asked Mane to clarify his earlier statement on his leaving the five times European champions and the former Southampton striker who is now Senegal’s leading goalscorer of all-time, said:

“I spoke yesterday while joking with a bit of humour and it was everywhere. I think we’ll stop there. Liverpool is a club I respect a lot. The fans adopted me since day one. Regarding the future, we’ll see.

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Sports

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

1 day ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Two of Africa’s club giants, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Esperance of Tunisia, will do battle next month over two legs for the right to be crowned champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Title-holders Al Ahly and their long-standing rivals Esperance both booked their places in the final with dramatic semi-final victories over DR Congo”s TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa respectively on Friday night.

While Al Ahly, winners of five of the last seven editions of the continent’s top draw tournament, with a record 11 in total, overcame TP Mazembe with a 3-0 aggregate victory in the semi-final second leg after a goalless first leg last Saturday, Esperance surprised Sundowns with a 1-0 victory in Pretoria to wrap up a 2-0 aggregate win.

The two-legged final will mark the third encounter between Ahly and Esperance in the Champions League final, with the Egyptians winning in 2012 and the Tunisians triumphing in 2018.

In 2023, the two clubs clashed in the semi-finals with Ahly emerging victorious home and away, securing a 4-0 aggregate triumph.

Esperance who are aiming for a fifth Champions League title, will host the first leg in Rades on May 18, with the return fixture scheduled in Cairo seven days later.

Sports

Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal accident where he sustained serious injuries.

The accident which involved a head-on collision between a Mercedes-Benz car in which Kalaba was in, and a truck, had initially sparked fears for his life and has since been in the Intensive Care Unit of the Zambian University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The good news on the footballer’s progress was released by the UTH Public Relations Officer, Nzeba Chanda, who informed that the Chipolopolo legend has been discharged after showing positive signs of recovery.

“Mr. Rainford Kalaba has been discharged from the UTH-Adult where he was admitted after being involved in a road traffic accident two weeks ago,” Chanda said, adding that Kalaba will continue his recovery at his family home.

According to local media reports, the 37-year-old was a passenger in a Mercedes Benz when it collided with an oncoming truck in the south-eastern Zambian town of Kafue a week and five days ago.

In his active playing days, Kalaba spent the majority of his club career at TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, winning the CAF Champions League with the club in 2015 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2016.

He also had a spell with clubsides in Portugal including FC Braga, and was a major part of the Zambian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 under Frenchman, Herve Renard.