Sports

WATCH VIDEO: Sadio Mane ‘snubbed’ handshake from Senegal president to celebrate like Roberto Firmino

Published

4 years ago

February 9, 2022

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Liverpool and Senegal striker, Sadio Mane was his nation’s hero on Sunday night, converting the winning penalty as Senegal won their first Africa Cup of Nations.

Surprisingly, however, Mane didn’t do much to endear himself Senegal’s president as the team received a warm welcome in Dakar on Monday.

Mane snubbing the president of Senegal’s handshake so he can do his celebration, I’ve seen it all now pic.twitter.com/svBY3jcb3c

— KJ (@kopite4ever1) February 8, 2022

Senegal overcame Egypt in a penalty shootout in the Cameroonian capital Yaounde on Sunday night, capping off an AFCON tournament that they had entered as favourites.

For the whole team, the story was one of redemption after they lost to Algeria in the 2019 final. But for Mane, who was handed the player of the tournament gong, it was even more special.

Having been presented with the chance to give Senegal an early lead from the spot against Egypt, Mane whacked his spot-kick straight into the arms of Pharaohs goalkeeper Gabaski.

The game ended 0-0, and Egypt were expected to win on penalties having already progressed past the Ivory Coast and Cameroon from 12 yards. But Egypt missed one and Senegal’s Chelsea ‘keeper Edouard Mendy saved another.

Mane stepped up for Senegal’s final kick, hammering his effort into the bottom corner to secure the glory.

After the game, Mane told Goal: “I am very proud and I think it is the best moment of my life ever.

“This day I think it is the best day. I won the Champions League and some trophies but I think this is the special one for me, this is more important for me.”

On Monday, Senegal’s players and coaches returned home and were given a heroes’ welcome, with president Macky Sall declaring a national holiday.

People lined the streets to cheer on their returning champions as they paraded on top of a bus.

Coach Aliou Cisse said: “I dedicate this victory to the Senegalese people. For years, we have been chasing this cup. Today we will be able to put a star on our jersey.

“Winning the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon has a special meaning. Winning against the most successful team in Africa is another symbol.”

After the parade, the Senegal team met the president, with Sall handing medals to the victorious footballers in front of a gathered crowd.

After hanging the medal around Mane’s neck, Sall reached out for the customary handshake. Mane clearly didn’t see the president’s hand, as rather than shake it, he turned towards the watching audience and performed a celebration made famous at Liverpool by his team-mate Roberto Firmino.

Ce qui se passe à #Dakar aujourd’hui est absolument démentiel, je m’en veux de ne pas y être.

C’est d’une brutalité émotionnelle…
Le football dans toute la splendeur. Puissance. Religion. #TeamSenegal #CAN2021 pic.twitter.com/psuTeYajDK

— Freddhy Koula (@FreddhyKoula) February 7, 2022

We’re sure Sall and the nation will forgive him given the joy that Mane has brought them.

Sports

Arsenal win EPL title after 22 years

Published

2 weeks ago

May 19, 2026

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Arsenal are English Premier League (EPL) champions after Manchester City failed to win at Bournemouth.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium to hand Arsenal an unassailable four-point lead with just one match remaining to the end of the season.

The Gunners win the EPL title for the first time in 22 years, since the legendary Invincible side won it in the 2003/04 season.

In the club’s 100th season without relegation from the EPL, the club will celebrate its centenary participation with a league title won on the back of a record 28 EPL wins that surpassed the 26 wins recorded by the Invincibles. The defence prevented opponents from registering a shot on target in six matches, equaling a 23-year league record, and also scored a record 17 goals from corner kicks.

Mikel Arteta’s tough side has led the table for most of the season before a late mini-collapse, and Man City’s late surge in form nearly threatened their title ambition for a second season in a row.

City’s late resurgence, however, was initially stunned by Everton in early May and completely collapsed against Bournemouth.

Guardiola’s side visited the Vitality Stadium aware that any result other than a victory would seal Arsenal’s title. But they lacked the execution for the mission after falling to a wonderful strike from Junior Kroupi in the first half.

City were only kept in the game by Bournemouth’s profligacy in front of goal. When Erling Haaland’s equaliser was squeezed home in the eleventh hour of the game, even the most faithful City supporter knew it was too little, too late.

Arsenal and Arteta secured the league earlier than they would have predicted, giving City a prodigious title run-in.

The league triumph is Arteta’s second major title with the North London club since joining in December 2019, adding to the English FA Cup trophy won within six months of his tenure in May 2020.

The 44-year-old Spaniard wins his fourth title overall and can win his fifth — and third major trophy — with victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final next weekend.

Sports

WrestleMania 42: Nigerian wrestler Oba Femi beats 10-time WWE Champion Brock Lesnar

Published

2 months ago

April 20, 2026

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Nigerian professional wrestler, Isaac Odugbesan, popularly known as Oba Femi, defeated 10-time WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar, on his WrestleMania debut on Sunday.

The clash, one of the headline matches at WrestleMania 42, ended on a dramatic note as the 27-year-old Nigerian overpowered the veteran.

Lesnar left his wrestling gear in the ring after the match — a gesture widely regarded in professional wrestling as a sign of retirement.

Oba Femi, also known as “The Ruler,” is a former NXT champion and has spent just three months on WWE’s main roster.

The contest began with both wrestlers testing each other’s strength before Lesnar briefly seized control with a series of offensive moves.

However, Femi absorbed the pressure and responded with a dominant display, shifting momentum in his favour.

Lesnar delivered an F5, but Femi quickly recovered, hitting a chokeslam before finishing the contest with his “Fall From Grace” sit-out powerbomb for the pinfall victory.

The bout quickly became a major talking point on social media, with fans reacting to the upset win.

Femi, a former shot put athlete, is a two-time NXT Champion and a one-time NXT North American Champion.

Born in Lagos, Odugbesan competed in track and field during his school years before signing with WWE in 2021 through its NIL programme.

He went on to win the 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament and the 2024 Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge.

During the WrestleMania Sunday post-show, Femi sent a message to Roman Reigns, popularly known as the “Original Tribal Chief,” drawing a loud reaction from fans as he hinted at a possible title challenge before the end of the year.

Sports

BREAKING: CAF overturns Afcon final result, declares Morocco winner

Published

3 months ago

March 17, 2026

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The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has overturned the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals and declare MOROCCO the winner of the title.

Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the final on 18 January in a match which was overshadowed when the Senegalese players refused to play after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless.

Following a delay of around 17 minutes, the players did eventually return and Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.

However, that result has now been overturned by CAF.

A statement by the African Football’s Governing Body said that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final match” with the “result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.