Senegal ignore Liverpool’s plea as Sadio Mane STARTS in their AFCON clash with Equatorial Guinea with Reds wanting him not to risk his health after being knocked out in Cape Verde clash five days ago
- Sadio Mane starts as Senegal as they take on Equatorial Guinea in the AFCON
- He suffered an injury scare in his sides win over Cape Verde in their last match
- Mane was taken to hospital following a clash of heads with goalkeeper Vozinha
- Despite Liverpool’s plea not to play him, he will look to help his side progress
- Chris Sutton previously slammed the handling of Mane following the incident
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane starts for Senegal as his side take on Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
The Reds had urged Senegal not to risk their star in the crucial match it had been claimed, but this has since been ignored.
Mane had previously suffered an injury scare in his sides win over Cape Verde in their last match, and was taken to hospital following a clash of heads with opposition goalkeeper Vozinha in the 53rd minute, the latter who was shown a red card.
Senegal’s Sadio Mane had previously gone off with a head injury against Cape Verde
Mane was pictured on an exercise bike earlier this week ahead of his sides AFCON clash
The 29-year-old stayed on the pitch for several minutes, scoring his country’s opening goal 10 minutes later, before being withdrawn with dizziness.
Mane would normally miss the next game due to concussion protocols in the Premier League, but was pictured in training with his side prior to the match, and was even seen on an exercise bike.
Sportsmail‘s Chris Sutton was damning in his assessment of how the situation was handled, previously.
‘Mane collides with the goalkeeper at speed, then fails to break his fall, landing face-first instead,’ he said. ‘He’s unable to lift his head while lying on his back.
‘There only needs to be the slightest suspicion of concussion for the player to be substituted. Yet he was helped back up and pretty much told, ”You’ve passed the tests. On you go, son”.
He starts for his nation against Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-finals despite Liverpool’s plea
Chris Sutton previously said it would be ‘putting results before the player’ should he start
‘After celebrating his goal, he dropped to the deck and then was a concussion substitute. It would be a ridiculous attitude from Senegal, from the Confederation of African Football, from FIFA or from anybody with influence in this situation, if he featured on Sunday.
‘If Mane does feature, that will be proof of football putting results ahead of players. This is the reality of football’s attitude towards brain injuries. It really is remarkable.’
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