Sadio Mane: From Bambali to football immortality, the rise of Senegal’s humble superstar

Sadio Mane: From Bambali to football immortality, the rise of Senegal’s humble superstar

Sadio Mané grew up in a world far removed from the glitz of European football—a world where poverty was common, hospitals were non-existent, and the idea of a local boy making it to the Premier League seemed like pure fantasy. His early years were shaped by loss and faith. His father, a village imam, died when Sadio was just seven years old. In a 2020 Guardian interview, Mané reflected on that pain: I said to myself, ‘Now I have to do my best …