Yaya Toure has claimed that he has to give ‘huge credit’ to Liverpool forward Sadio Mane after he helped Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday, as he told BBC Three.
The Premier League legend added that Mane’s winning penalty against Egypt was ‘perfection’ from the £34 million Liverpool star (BBC Sport).
It was a tale of two emotions for Liverpool’s attacking duo in Cameroon, with Mane and his Senegal side winning their first-ever AFCON crown.
Whilst it was pure heartache for Mohamed Salah, who didn’t even get a chance to take his spot-kick during his side’s penalty shootout defeat.
At the third time of asking at an Africa Cup of Nations final, Senegal were victorious and they can now rightly call themselves the kings of Africa.
Yaya Toure won the AFCON title at the third time of asking, with the Ivory Coast, during his playing days and he was wowed by the manner in which Mane took and dispatched his winning penalty, after missing an earlier one in the match.
“You have to give huge credit to Sadio Mane,” said Toure. “He missed the first one and scored the last one for his team to win the trophy. I was a fan of Senegal. Sadio Mane was fantastic.
On his winning penalty: “He was just precise, focused and that is the best way to do it. That one was top draw. Perfection.”
Added with being crowned champions, Mane also walked away as the Player of the tournament.
This is a great recipe for Jurgen Klopp to deal with on Merseyside when Mane and Salah return.
On one hand, he will have a rejuvenated and confident Mane ready to do the business ahead of the second half of the campaign.
Whilst Salah will probably want to take his anger out on Premier League teams and guide Liverpool to glory.
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