CAIRO — Sadio Mane will have to settle for a Champions League title. Not such a bad season.
It could have been so much better for the Liverpool forward if Senegal had found a way to end its barren run at the African Cup of Nations, which is now 15 tournaments over 54 years and counting.
Baghdad Bounedjah’s deflected goal in the second minute decided Friday’s African Cup final 1-0 in favor of Algeria and extended Senegal’s wait for a maiden triumph.
Once again, Mane had to watch a Manchester City player — this time in the form of Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez — lift a trophy he came so close to claiming.