AFCON 2021: Mane, Salah in search of glory, Super birthday gift.
The 33rd Nations Cup in Cameroon is gradually moving to a close with semifinal clashes set for Wednesday and Thursday respectively. While Senegal slug it out with Burkina Faso on Wednesday, Egypt and host Cameroon will set the grass ablaze on Thursday.
Without underrating other players that will be taking part in this battle of survival, two players will be standing out in this unfolding episode, Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah.
The duo are not only carrying the weight of their teams on their shoulders in the quest for continental glory they will also be hoping to clinch the continental diadem to serve as garnishing for their forthcoming birthdays.
Apart from being friends Mane and Salah both play for premier league giants Liverpool and blend so well in the club that whenever both are on duty opponents know that there is no time to slumber.
Interestingly both players will turn 30 this year, Mane in April and Salah in June. Permutations expectedly have continued to range on as the tournament moves gradually to the finish line.
Should Senegal survive the expected challenge of Burkina Faso who have so far shown that they can fight and will fight to the finish, they will face the winner between Cameroon and Egypt.
Should Egypt against all odds survive the challenge of facing hosts with massive support expected from the 12th player, vociferous home crowd, then, you could have Mane draw battle line against teammate Salah in the final. One die-hard Liverpool fan called me and asked even when he knows he is the only one that will eventually answer his own question. “I love Mane and I love Salah. These are my boys.
(The way he said it you will think he is the one paying their salary at the Anfield) “If both of them make it to the final, who will I support? I am sure he wasn’t going to wait for answer from me and he continued.
May be I will be sentimental here and support Mane because they have not won before, Egypt have won a record seven times and if they win it would be the 8th trophy, yet I want Salah to crown his effort with glory” So what do you suggest I do?
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He asked this time waiting for my answer and it came “Bros just relax and enjoy the game and let the team that is more hungrier for the title lift it. It is not about sentiment it is about what you can do on the pitch within 90 minutes or 120 minutes as the case may be.
If you choose to head into penalties anything can happen and February 6 is waiting!