Afcon 2021: Sadio Mane From A Lesson To A Win

First of all, congrats to the lions of Teranga!

 

If you don’t know that’s Senegal, as they defeated Egypt in the AFCON (African Cup Of Nations) last month.

 

 I really had to think about this, as I had to pick a key lesson I took from all of this, that I know will help you.

 

I could have typed about the whole team, the fantastic job that Aliou Cissé (The head coach) did with the team, or countless players that played out of their skin & made it great comp to watch.

 

 I choose Sadio in the end because, I learned the most from him in this comp & I feel like he is overlooked, a second thought & after his win, I want to give him his flowers, as I’m not really seeing that in the mass media in the west!

 

So I really hope you get to the end of this, and take-away the lesson that I learned from Sadio, let’s gooo!

The First Penalty

This was very early on in the game against Egypt, it was in the 7th min if I’m not mistaken…

 

Anyway, Sadio did not look as confident as he normally does when he stepped up to take the penalty.

 

I think he was thinking too much about Gabaski (The Egyptian Goalkeeper) who was world-class in every game & saved a lot of penalties before this final.

 

I also believe his mind went into overdrive and thought, F this, I’m just going to smash and hope.

 

Even though it was a good penalty kick, I think mentally the first time around, he beat himself and the rep of Gabaski lived on, as he saved it, with a cat like dive.

 

Credit to Sadio who did not let that stop him for the rest of the game, he showed his mental strength.

One Path He Never Took

For the rest of the game, he could have acted like a spoilt child, and decided his downing tools.

 

I’m not naming names of footballers, but us that watch the game know those top players who have thrown their toys out the pram…

 

As they did not get it their own way, or bottled a final via a miss like a penalty.

 

This path would have led to his team looking to him, as Sadio is a leader, someone that is looked up to by many teammates and fans alike.

 

It could have killed the vibe of the fans & the rest of the team, but no…

 

He never took the road, an easy road, a road that would have led to his country gifting Egypt the cup, it’s the final after all & he chose to fight!

 

It’s easy to make it all about you & give up, but he never took that path, every time you do this for yourself too, you’re brave and strong no matter the outcome, as you chose the harder path.

 

Sadio Second Chance

So, after 90 mins the game between Senegal & Egypt was goalless, quite annoying, too, as Senegal should have really won this in normal time.

 

They were peppering Egypt, had them on the ropes, again and again but they could not score, Gabaski was making big saves for them.

 

This was something that went on even in extra time, and it really lead to something deeper, which I will talk about later.

 

Now we go to the penalties, bearing in mind that Egypt had been to extra time and penalties over and over again this comp.

 

Their confidence was threw the roof, Gabaski must of thought this was his time! & yet he let in 3 penalties, Egypt scored their first penalty, missed the second, scored the third & missed the fourth.

 

So, it was all on Sadio. If he had missed, it would have led Egypt back into the game, Mo Salah (Egypt’s main man) would have been able to take it, and make it 3,3 then they would go into sudden-death (If you miss, and they score you lose). So Sadio made sure, this time not to think too much about it.

He chose to go to the same place, hit it hard, but this time it was not about hope…

He aimed and fired the shot this time with curve, so power plus the aim of the curve made it unstoppable, even when Gabaski went the right way, he could not get his hand to it!

 

Then the whole crowd goes wildddd!

 

The rest is history, point being, stop over thinking every little detail. Go with what you already know At that moment, let what you have been doing guide you, all the days that came before the final got him to score that goal…

 

He shifted from over thinking to, the data he already has on Gabaski, he learned a lesson the first time and turned it around for himself.

 

Always back yourself, nobody really cares about his miss now, other than him I would have thought, as his gone on to lift the cup with his country!

 

This is a true champion mindset!

 

The Elephant In The Room

I cannot recall who said it, but I know what was said there is just something in the waters about Egypt you know.

 

In other words, they are going to win this at 0,0. Even though they, on the most part did not do much, the whole game.

 

This comment of course did not age well, the commentary team I was hearing had a preset idea, one they would not let go of, in which no matter what, Egypt win! Until of course they don’t LMAO!

 

To win in football you have to put the ball in the back of the net, until the game is over, it’s not over.

 

You can brainwash the audience, and move them into a trail of thinking, but you cannot change the result of what is going on, it’s between them.

 

I would urge those that take what they say as it, to really think for yourself and come to your own conclusion, as I felt it was very bias indeed.

 

It seems many are only begrudgingly giving him his flowers, yet this entire comp as far as the mass media was concerned it was set up for Mo Salah to win, with the headlines that he is the best player in the world.

 

Yet, the reality of it is, he has the losers’ medal, Sadio has the gold.

The truth can hurt, but it must be told!

I notice also, (At the time of typing this) the media is pretty much done with him, as it was not Mo that won.

 

Hmmm, I wonder what it could be ?

 

You know what it is & what a sad shame that this is not a universal win, as Sadio has given so much to charity in his country, built a hospital in his hometown & comes across as a really good man, with his mind on his football.

 

Playing for a certain team should not have no part to play in the praise a human being should get for their efforts, nor what they look like factor in them not getting their flowers.

 

We all have our fav players, but give credit where it is due, I don’t know about the rest of the world, but I’m glad that Senegal won, also for one am not a Liverpool fan, I’m not even from Senegal, but I am a fan of seeing good football, great players playing well & not classist/racist to those who don’t look like me.

 

I hope if you’re reading this, you can say the same too!

 


THAT’S IT!

I really enjoyed sharing this with you guys.

 

Please do let me know though…

 

What Was The Best Game You Watched In The AFCON ?

 

 How Was The Press Where You’re From For Sadio ?

 

Out Of 10, What Would You Give This Year’s AFCON ?

 

Until We Meet Again, Ciao

We Look Up

Karim David 

The Healthy One 

 

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

135 Comments
Oldest
Newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jon Krog
Jon Krog
2 years ago

I felt the same but out of place to say anything, They should have made more of a fuss for Him.

Linda Sommer
Linda Sommer
2 years ago

Nigeria 1-0 Egypt game.

Henrik Abildgaard
Henrik Abildgaard
2 years ago

Thank you, This is good advice.

Kelly Reiz-Munch
Kelly Reiz-Munch
2 years ago

As a Liverpool fan I have to say you’ve got this spot on!

Tage Michaelsen
Tage Michaelsen
2 years ago

Good points made, I just enjoyed all the games.

Mikael Andreasen
Mikael Andreasen
2 years ago

YNWA

Kenny Drew Jones
Kenny Drew Jones
2 years ago

8

Peter Abildgaard
Peter Abildgaard
2 years ago

I love this, I’ve got to keep looking up.

John Kofod
John Kofod
2 years ago

Mane did not get half of what Mo Salah would have got if he won, that’s true.

Leo Ladefoged
Leo Ladefoged
2 years ago

Nigeria 3-1 Sudan!

Sonny Toft
Sonny Toft
2 years ago

Eight out of ten.

Martine Høj
Martine Høj
2 years ago

9.

Roy Mølgaard
Roy Mølgaard
2 years ago

10/10.

Jeff Munk
Jeff Munk
2 years ago

This was really good, thanks for doing this.

Kate Buch
Kate Buch
2 years ago

I’m really glad I found this, you did not have to do Mo like that though 🤣

Ray Berthelsen
Ray Berthelsen
2 years ago

Ivory Coast V Algeria

Jessica Kjærgaard
Jessica Kjærgaard
2 years ago

The press did a poor job of it all.

Tanja Frost
Tanja Frost
2 years ago

This was a really good read, Thanks for the share!

Cecilie Nissen
Cecilie Nissen
2 years ago

Ryan sent me here!

Max Lund
Max Lund
2 years ago

Senegal 2-0 Cape Verde

Russell Dubois
Russell Dubois
2 years ago

The press was really good, they covered the whole team.

Renell Henry
Renell Henry
2 years ago

Ivory Coast vs Egypt

Mahlik Wallace
Mahlik Wallace
2 years ago

Senegal started off bad at afcon, but then did the same thing you talk about on here too.

Clayton Weir
Clayton Weir
2 years ago

Thanks for speaking up about this, it’s very good to learn from too.

Varnan Gray
Varnan Gray
2 years ago

I gave it an 8 out of 10.

Ramello Alston
Ramello Alston
2 years ago

Burkina Faso did so well, I loved watching them play. Overall I would give it a seven.

Javion Spencer
Javion Spencer
2 years ago

I watch some of the games at Garoua std and it was nice to see in the flesh.

Javion Spencer
Javion Spencer
2 years ago

*Roumde Adjia Stadium

Avondré Francis
Avondré Francis
2 years ago

Ten!

Mike Sullivan
Mike Sullivan
2 years ago

8 for me.

Mindy Grey
Mindy Grey
2 years ago

Nine

Efrem Karim
Efrem Karim
2 years ago

I agree with you on this, very well said.

Urelles Barnett
Urelles Barnett
2 years ago

Mane did very well, I enjoyed reading this!

Quandell Warren
Quandell Warren
2 years ago

10/10

Sammy Pete
Sammy Pete
2 years ago

Loved this, I love to learn about the mindset.

Kesean Chambers
Kesean Chambers
2 years ago

Chris sent me here.

Keylon Prince
Keylon Prince
2 years ago

The press in the U.S just about made the back page!

Darrell Bell
Darrell Bell
2 years ago

Senegal was the team I was rooting for, I’m so happy that they won.

Latrelle Washington
Latrelle Washington
2 years ago

Loved this!

Tanzetanau Etémé
Tanzetanau Etémé
2 years ago

Cameroon VS Burkina Faso

Lenny Luli
Lenny Luli
2 years ago

Cameroon V Burkina Faso

Salomon Obi
Salomon Obi
2 years ago

seven.

Sone Diboko
Sone Diboko
2 years ago

Cameroon did not do well so five.

Nyenty Bia
Nyenty Bia
2 years ago

Ryan sent me here

Bobby Kafilengule
Bobby Kafilengule
2 years ago

Chris sent me here.

Thibaut Bikoko
Thibaut Bikoko
2 years ago

It’s true, we all know why too. Thank you for speaking about this.

Luca Bènga
Luca Bènga
2 years ago

I never saw it like that, I just thought the keeper made a top save.

Mathias Welisanè
Mathias Welisanè
2 years ago

Thanks for the share bud!

Natanaël Ibrahima
Natanaël Ibrahima
2 years ago

God, the quality of this was poor. I’ll blamed Covid and all sorts of other nonsense for this though.

Sahndra Zanga
Sahndra Zanga
2 years ago

nine.