Sadio Mané’s master class in leadership

Abdelmonem Fawzi

We live in an era of global order that resembles not a smooth transition but a rugged, unpredictable playing field.

At its epicentre stands Africa, a continent of profound resilience, boundless innovation, and ripple effects that extend far beyond its borders.

Africa’s stories are its own to tell, and nowhere is this more evident than in the global impact of African talent.

The proof is undeniable: more than 1,250 players trained on African soil now compete in Europe’s top leagues, a figure that has doubled over the past two decades.

African athletes have not merely participated in global football, but have reshaped it, becoming dominant forces through sheer skill, unbreakable resilience, and inspiring leadership.

From trailblazing pioneers to today’s icons, these players have rewritten the sport’s narrative on the world stage.

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final, held recently in Rabat, Morocco, will forever be etched in history as one of the most dramatic and chaotic showdowns ever witnessed.

In a tense 0-0 deadlock deep into stoppage time, referee Jean-Jacques Ngambo Ndala awarded a highly contentious penalty to hosts Morocco following a VAR review.

Senegal’s players and coaching staff, already furious over a disallowed goal moments earlier, erupted in protest.

Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw instructed his team to walk off the pitch in a dramatic show of defiance against what they saw as injustice.

Nonetheless, amid the chaos, one figure stood firm: captain Sadio Mané.

Refusing to let frustration or anger dictate the outcome, Mané remained on the field, passionately protesting the decision before racing to the tunnel.

There, he rallied his teammates, urging them not to abandon the fight with victory still within reach.

“We would have been crazy to walk away and damage African football,” Mané later reflected.

His leadership proved decisive. Mané returned to the pitch, waving emphatically and calling for his squad, including goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, to re-join him.

The team complied after a tense delay. Brahim Díaz stepped up for Morocco’s penalty but saw his audacious Panenka attempt saved by Mendy.

The match proceeded to extra time, where Pape Gueye’s stunning strike secured a 1-0 victory for Senegal, their second AFCON title.

In that pivotal moment, when surrender could have handed Morocco an automatic win and tarnished the tournament’s image, Mané embodied professionalism and composure.

While the coach’s walk-off order highlighted principled resistance to perceived unfairness, Mané’s intervention preserved the game’s integrity and Senegal’s chance at glory.

He deserved not just Man of the Match honours, but recognition as one of the world’s finest leaders.

This was far more than a football match. It was in fact a powerful master class in resilience, responsibility, and grace under pressure.

It captured the essence of the African story: narratives rich with moral depth, vibrant characters, and cultural symbolism that continue to drive the continent forward.

Football and politics have long been compared, sometimes illuminating, sometimes misleading.

During the 1990 World Cup, Egyptian novelist Abdel-Hakim Qassem likened Cameroon’s Roger Milla to Spartacus, the rebel leader.

US Senator William Fulbright, in his 1989 book The Price of Empire, contrasted the harmless rivalry of sports with the dangerous arms race of the Cold War.

However, critics like Italian semiotician Umberto Eco warned against over-politicising the game, noting that treating football as a miniature state or proxy for national identity risks dangerous consequences when tied to power, culture, or socio-economic competition.

Ultimately, sports and politics can coexist and even reinforce each other, especially through sports diplomacy, intercultural dialogue, and shared values.

The AFCON final chaos, resolved through African leadership, reminds us that on the pitch – as in life – true strength lies not in protest alone, but in the courage to persist, unite, and win with dignity. This is the energy propelling Africa onward.