Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has insisted that Senegal forward Sadio Mane saved African football following the conclusion of the 2025 AFCON.

Ferdinand made the assertion in his Rio Presents Podcast while speaking on the key moment when Senegal’s squad, incensed by the referee’s decision, marched off the pitch against Morocco during the AFCON final.

He noted that the ‘gods’ favoured Pape Thiaw’s men after Mane told his teammates to return to the pitch and Senegal eventually won the match 1-0.

“African football was at risk the moment Senegal’s team went down that tunnel whether Senegal were right or wrong to think they were being cheated or not.

“To walk off the pitch based on the decision that was made [by the referee] did not look right.

“Mane saved African football, not just Senegalese football. He brought his team out of the tunnel and said, ‘Listen, guys, win or lose, you have got to come out and play the game, African football demands it.

“The gods were on their side after that, and then they managed to win the game. What Mane did at the AFCON made me absolutely love him,” Ferdinand said.