Liverpool winger Sadio Mane has revealed why he and club teammate Mohamed Salah have not spoken to each other about the recent Africa Cup of Nations final they both featured in.
The 2018/19 Premier League Golden Boot winners took their respective teams, Senegal and Egypt, all the way to the AFCON final in Cameroon earlier this month, with Mane claiming the Player of the Tournament award and also becoming an African champion, while Salah was defeated for the second time on the continental showpiece's biggest stage.
Mane scored the decisive penalty in the shootout to make sure the West Africans were crowned competition winners for the first time in their history.
Salah went home distraught, whereas Mane was in euphoria, and because of this, the Senegalese forward is empathetic towards his club teammate and thus refuses to speak about the final now that they are both back in Liverpool.
"Until now – you won't believe me – but we haven't talked about it, because I know he's still disappointed, for sure," Mane told Que Golazo.
The 29-year-old did disclose, though, that they have joked about the "mind games" that unfolded in the match.
"We have mentioned when I missed the penalty," Mane added.
"He [Salah] said: 'Why did you come to see the goalkeeper?' and I said, 'No, because you've been talking to him and I'm sure you will play mind games, so I will play mind games as well.
"I saw him talking and I'm sure he was not saying anything much so it was fine to just say it was mind games and I want to be more fun than them, so I go, 'Mo, I will put it in the right side, tell him I will put it in the right side.'"
Mane was also asked about the next meeting between the Lions of Teranga and the Pharaohs, an all-important 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off in March.
"Me and Mo Salah don't even talk about it," he added.
"I think that I'm still thinking about my African Cup, but it's also an important game that means a lot to me and my people.
"If we can qualify – and we will do everything to do it – it's very important for me, my teammates and my country because it's a really, really massive competition, which is a dream for any football player."
