Liam Rosenior was full of praise for Liverpool’s Sadio Mane last night. Rosenior was on co-commentary duty as Sky Sports covered Senegal’s AFCON semi-final win over Burkina Faso.
It was a nervy first half for Mane’s Senegal as they couldn’t break down their underdog opponents. But after Abdou Diallo fired them in front from a corner, the Liverpool superstar took control of the game.
As the clock ticked into the last 15 minutes, Mane chased a loose ball that was running out of play. After nicking it away from the defender right on the touchline, the Liverpool number 10 had the presence of mind to pick out a teammate in the middle who buried it for 2-0.
Rosenior thinks that Mane’s desire to chase every loose ball make him unique in the world of football.
“He’s not just an attacking player but the way he recovers the ball is as good as any forward I’ve ever seen and this is another example of that,” said the commentator.
“I’m not sure any other forward would retrieve the ball like this, he doesn’t give it up and that’s so unselfish.”
Mane sends a reminder
We’ve seen this from Mane hundreds of times in a red shirt. He is constantly buzzing around defenders waiting to pounce on any mistake.
His quality may have deserted him at times in front of goal in the last 18 months. But his work-rate has never been in question.
“This is typical Sadio Mane,” continued Rosenior. “This is what makes him world class. That effort that some forwards would just give it up and let that ball run off the pitch but not Sadio Mane and he puts it on a plate for Dieng.”
The 29-year-old then finished the game off for Senegal after Burkina Faso pulled a goal back. Racing through one-on-one, Mane dinked a delightful left-footed finish over the ‘keeper to take his team into the final.
Egypt play Cameroon in the second semi-final this evening. A win against the host nation would set up a mouth-watering clash between Mane and Mohamed Salah in the final.
Liverpool’s new signing Luis Diaz is of course player who likes to operate in Mane’s favoured left-sided position. With some claiming that Diaz’s arrival could spell the end for Mane at Anfield, this was a timely reminder of just how good he can be.
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