By: Lamin Drammeh
A goal and an assist for Bayern Munich’s new signing Sadio Mane in his debut for the German champions as they destroyed Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United 6-2 at the Audi Field soccer- stadium in Washington D.C.
Mane made his presence felt in the fifth minute, scoring from a penalty spot to register the club’s first preseason goal.
The Senegalese superstar assisted Serge Gnabry in hammering home Bayern’s third goal from close range in the 44th minute.
The former Liverpool forward later traveled to Rabat, Morocco, where he’s expected to grace the 2022 CAF African footballer of the year awards ceremony.
Mane won the last award in 2019 and is the overwhelming favorite to win again. If confirmed, he will become the first Senegalese to win the prestigious CAF African Men’s player of the year award twice.
The former Southampton talisman was instrumental in helping Senegal win their first Africa Cup of Nations title in February. In addition, Mane who joined the Bundesliga champions in a £40 million deal after a successful six years with Liverpool, was both the head and the heart of the Teranga Lions’ side that stunned Mo Salah’s Egypt to reach the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and is expected to play a leading role for Senegal as they set to make their third World Cup appearance later this year.
Senegal will kick off the tournament with a mouthwatering clash against the Netherlands on November 21. They will then face host Qatar on November 25 before wrapping up group A fixtures against Ecuador four days later.
The winner of the CAF African footballer of the year award 2022 will be decided by a judging panel made up of members of CAF’s technical committee, press and coaches, and captains of Africa’s 54 national teams.
Meanwhile, Gambian sports journalist Momodou Bah is also selected amongst African journalists from across the continent, who will vote in a decisive CAF African Men’s player of the year award.
The winner will be announced this evening.
