Sadio Mané aims to lead Senegal to African Cup of Nations glory while chasing historic scoring milestones.
The 33-year-old striker wants to surpass legends like Didier Drogba, Patrick Mboma, and Hossam Hassan as he competes in the 35th edition of the tournament.
The Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is officially underway. Hosts Morocco will open the tournament this Sunday in Rabat against Comoros.
Playing in front of home fans, the Atlas Lions seek to reclaim the title they last lifted nearly half a century ago, having won their only continental trophy in 1976 in Ethiopia.
Senegal and the reigning Ivorian champions also attract strong attention. For Mané, the tournament carries dual significance: helping his country win and further cementing his legacy among Africa’s greatest scorers.
The Senegal forward currently has nine goals in Africa Cup of Nations history, two short of Drogba, Mboma, and Hassan, who each scored 11.
Mané made his AFCON debut in 2015 in Equatorial Guinea and opened his goalscoring account two years later in Gabon.
He scored two goals in 2017, three in 2019, three in 2022, and one in 2024.
With just two more goals, he could join the top three all-time scorers, potentially matching or surpassing Nigerian legend Rashidi Yekini (13 goals) and Ivorian Laurent Pokou (14 goals).
Currently tied with Abdoulaye Traoré, Vincent Aboubakar, and Manucho at nine goals each, Mané has the chance to surpass other notable players including Kalusha Bwalya, Santos, Joël Tiéhi, André Ayew, and Pierre Ndaye Mulamba, each of whom scored 10.
The tournament’s all-time top scorers remain led by Samuel Eto’o with 18 goals, followed by Laurent Pokou (14), Rashidi Yekini (13), and Hassan El-Shazly (12).
As the competition unfolds, Mané’s pursuit of personal records adds a compelling subplot to Senegal’s quest for continental success, offering fans not only thrilling football but also the chance to witness history in the making.
