Sadio Mané, the philanthropic soccer player
Senegalese soccer star Sadio Mané is preparing to defend his country's colors at the Africa Cup of Nations. Beyond his exploits on the pitch, discover the philanthropic side of the player, who has been rewarded for his charity work in Senegal.
By Bilkyss Mentari
The secrecy surrounding his recent marriage has not prevented the tabloids from setting the web ablaze. But Sadio Mané remains focused on his goals. On the eve of the start of AFCON 2024 in Abidjan, the Teranga child must lead the Lions to victory and retain the trophy they won at the last AFCON.
The former Merseyside icon, who now plays for Saudi Al-Nassr, is the first African player to stand on the podium of the world’s most prestigious soccer award since George Weah won the Ballon d’Or in 1995. But it is another award that will have touched the young footballer, given for his personal investment in social and charitable projects in Senegal.
I wanted to build a hospital to give people hope
Despite his international career, Sadio has never forgotten his homeland or his community. In particular, his home village of Bambali, where he made his first passes, which he left at the age of 15 to follow his dream… only to return years later to carry out development projects. From the construction of a hospital, to a school, to a donation during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the recent construction of a stadium in his home village. « I remember my sister was also born at home because there is no hospital in our village. It was a really, really sad situation for everyone. I wanted to build one to give people hope,” he told the Guardian in 2020. That sums up the idea.
A commitment that won him the Socrates Prize in 2022, which rewards soccer players for their humanitarian work. « Sometimes I’m a bit shy talking about it, but I’m really happy to do what I can for our people and to make, maybe, things better, » he confided at the awards ceremony.
Thirty-something Sadio Mané is considered the best player in the history of the Senegalese national team, one of the favorites for AFCON 2024, and one of the African soccer personalities who shines outside the stadiums.
