Mane with Senegal president Macky Sall. Image: Présidence Sénégal/Twitter
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Sadio Mane’s goals and tireless work have won the hearts of fans, but his work for charity has also won him plaudits.
Former Liverpool superstar Mane is now plying his trade at German club Bayern Munich, after a trophy-laden spell on Merseyside.
He’s one of the greatest players to come from Senegal, and he’s given his country not only trophies – scoring the winning penalty in the final of the 2022 African Cup of Nations – but a huge amount of donations for important projects.
This summer he was spotted playing football with friends on a muddy pitch in Bambali, his home village. It was from here Mane forged a football career, running away at the age of 15 to follow his dream.
Since then, as his star has risen, he’s given back phenomenally.
This is what Sadio Mane has done for charity.
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Donated £500,000 for a hospital to be built in his home village of Bambali
Mané’s father died when he was a child, and the lack of health services in his home region has become a big cause in the footballer’s life.
“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,” told the Guardian in 2020.
Le footballeur Sadio Mané a été reçu cet après-midi par le Président @Macky_Sall. L’attaquant de Liverpool a présenté au Chef de l’Etat un ambitieux projet de construction d’un hôpital à Bambali et compte sur l'accompagnement de l'Etat pour le personnel médical. pic.twitter.com/aPBwtY8Iz7
Donated £41,000 to the Senegal government when the pandemic hit
At the start of the pandemic in March 2020, another one of Sadio Mané’s charity donations took place – he gave £41,000 to the national committee fighting Covid in Senegal.
His agent said he had done it “spontaneously when he saw the evolution of the situation”.
“Disinfect your hands as much as possible, clean your hands for at least 30 seconds”
In the spring of 2019, as Liverpool were in the final stages of their successful Champions League campaign, Mané made a £250,000 donation to fund a school in Bambali.
At a ceremony, Mané’s uncle read a speech from the player, which said: “Education is very important. This is what will enable you to have a good career.”
Gifted 300 Liverpool shirts to people in his home village
If there are any Everton fans in Bambali, they’re probably wondering if they picked the wrong side.
Mané donated 300 Liverpool shirts so people in his village could wear them during the 2018 Champions League final.
Liverpool lost to Real Madrid, but those with the shirts had cause to celebrate the following year, when Liverpool lifted the trophy.
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