Sports

New Stadium To Be Named After AFCON Hero Mane

Mayor of the Senegalese region of Sedhiou, Abdoulaye Diop on Friday confirmed plans to name the city’s new stadium after Liverpool star Sadio Mane as a reward for his performances at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Sadio Mane scored the winning spot kick as the Teranga Lions beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to win their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday, February 6.

Mane played in all of the Teranga Lions’ games in Cameroon and he contributed three goals with two assists.

Senegal had previously lost two Nations Cup finals, finishing runners-up in 2002 and 2019.

“Sadio Mane has honoured all of Senegal, the Sedhiou region and the entire Casamance area. I have decided to name the Sedhiou stadium after him,” Diop said.

“In doing so I wish to convey the gratitude of all the sons and daughters of the region towards him.

“He has made all of mankind aware of Bambali and Sedhiou, the region’s main town. This is a gift that Sadio Mane truly deserves,” Diop concluded.

Izuchukwu Okosi

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc. In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio. He worked there for 13 years until October 2017. Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch. He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations. Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line. Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.