Sadio Mané’s unexpected priorities as CAF Awards approach

Issa Said

As the prestigious African Ballon d’Or is set to be awarded in Morocco on Monday evening, Sadio Mané will be far from the spotlight in Marrakech.

Instead of attending the CAF Awards ceremony, the Senegalese striker, now a majority shareholder at Bourges FC, has arrived in Cher for a professional visit, signaling his growing commitment to the French club.

Mané’s arrival in Bourges on Sunday evening marked a stark contrast to the glamour of the awards event.

After a short 25-minute flight from Le Bourget, he landed at Bourges Airport at 9 p.m., accompanied by his family.

Over 2,400 kilometers away from the heat of Marrakech, the former Liverpool star was greeted by Cheikh Sylla, president of Bourges FC, and his partners from the SM Pro Bourges company, Bacary Cissé and Pape Dieng.

The warm welcome also included members of the club’s women’s team, who had recently advanced to the last 16 of the Coupe de France.

Mané, who has been on a holiday break since the start of the winter period in Saudi Arabia, wasted no time in diving into his duties at Bourges FC.

His visit, which will span several days, is not just a social engagement but a clear demonstration of his active role in the club’s development.

As reported by Le Berry Républicain, Mané’s schedule for Monday was packed. His day began with the official signing of Romain Revelli as the new head coach of the men’s team, replacing Walid Aïchour.

Following that, Mané was set to attend a training session of the club’s National 2 men’s team, further emphasizing his hands-on approach to Bourges FC’s growth and long-term goals.

At the same time, the African Ballon d’Or ceremony in Marrakech will proceed without Mané, who had hoped to add another title to his collection.

The 2023-2024 season has not been as fruitful for the Senegalese forward, who despite solid individual numbers with Al-Nassr—19 goals and 11 assists in 46 appearances—has seen his collective achievements fall short.

A disappointing exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the round of 16 against Côte d’Ivoire, coupled with a lack of significant team success, has left him out of contention for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Instead, players like Achraf Hakimi, Serhou Guirassy, and Ademola Lookman are the frontrunners for the prestigious accolade.

Though his absence from the awards ceremony may feel like a farewell to the spotlight for now, Mané’s focus remains firmly on building a future in French football, with Bourges FC at the center of his ambitions.

❤️ L’arrivée de Sadio Mané🇸🇳 à Bourges!
L’international sénégalais, qui devra assister à un match du club auquel il est actionnaire, a été accueilli par une très forte délégation. pic.twitter.com/mwNkcWW5sH

— Footsen⭐ (@footsen221) December 15, 2024

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Sadio Mané’s unexpected priorities as CAF Awards approach

Issa Said

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