It might have been an awkward flight, though, as the Chelsea goalie stated that his “brother” should have been sent off just hours earlier.

The two 29-year-old Senegalese footballers left London on Sunday night to travel to Cameroon to play in the postponed continental competition with their national team.

But in the afternoon, Mane created a stir when, only six seconds into Liverpool’s game at Stamford Bridge, he managed to avoid a red card.

As they headed for a long ball, the attacker led with an elbow to strike Cesar Azpilicueta.

But referee Anthony Taylor gave him a yellow card.

By the end of the game, Azpilicueta was furious and had a black eye, thus he referred to the challenge as a “clear red.”

Thomas Tuchel, the manager of Chelsea, asserted that VAR did not even look over the decision. Mane’s buddy and fellow countryman Mendy found it difficult to stop him.

“Sadio is my brother and fellow countryman,” the goalie told RMC Sport. But he wasn’t supposed to be out there on the pitch for another minute.

Even worse, Mane scored the first goal of the exciting contest just eight minutes in.
Trevoh Chalobah pounced on a mistake made by Mendy, circumnavigating him to send the ball into the back of the net.

After that, Mo Salah scored past the top scorer for Senegal to make it 2-0, but goals from Christian Pulisic and Mateo Kovacic before halftime tied the score. Malawi, Zimbabwe, Guinea, and Senegal—led by Mane and Mendy—make up Group B.

On January 10, they will take on Zimbabwe in their first AFCON game at Bafoussam’s Kouekong Stadium.