Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah are about to face off once again in the African Cup of Nations semi-final between Senegal and Egypt. The two 33-year-old superstars have a long history, not just on the pitch but also off it, with their careers having run parallel lines in terms of their impact and success. Born just 66 days apart, they hail from different parts of the continent - Mané from Bambali in Senegal's Casamance region and Salah from Nagrig near Egypt's Nile River.
The two have been involved in some high-profile incidents over the years, particularly when it comes to their rivalry with each other. The 2022 Africa Cup of Nations final will always be remembered for a penalty shootout between the two teams, which Senegal won after Mané scored the decisive kick. Salah was left to rue his missed kicks from the spot.
Since then, they have been locked in a series of intense encounters, both on and off the pitch. The 33-year-olds have both been praised for their skills and work rate but also criticized for their occasional flare-ups. In one memorable incident, Mané had previously clashed with Salah at Liverpool, suggesting that he thought his former teammate could do better when it came to making passes.
Despite these differences, they both maintain that their rivalry is built on a mutual desire to win. They respect each other's abilities but acknowledge that they are not always close off the pitch. The stage is now set for them to clash once again in Tangier, with Salah looking to redeem himself after some high-profile missed penalties.
Their careers may be waning, but Mané and Salah remain two of Africa's most dominant forces on the pitch. Their rivalry has been a talking point for years, and this semi-final is sure to be one for the ages.
The two have been involved in some high-profile incidents over the years, particularly when it comes to their rivalry with each other. The 2022 Africa Cup of Nations final will always be remembered for a penalty shootout between the two teams, which Senegal won after Mané scored the decisive kick. Salah was left to rue his missed kicks from the spot.
Since then, they have been locked in a series of intense encounters, both on and off the pitch. The 33-year-olds have both been praised for their skills and work rate but also criticized for their occasional flare-ups. In one memorable incident, Mané had previously clashed with Salah at Liverpool, suggesting that he thought his former teammate could do better when it came to making passes.
Despite these differences, they both maintain that their rivalry is built on a mutual desire to win. They respect each other's abilities but acknowledge that they are not always close off the pitch. The stage is now set for them to clash once again in Tangier, with Salah looking to redeem himself after some high-profile missed penalties.
Their careers may be waning, but Mané and Salah remain two of Africa's most dominant forces on the pitch. Their rivalry has been a talking point for years, and this semi-final is sure to be one for the ages.