‘Happy’ Sadio Mane breaks silence after marrying Aisha Tamba, 19, as ex-Liverpool ace, 31, heads to Afcon with Senegal
SADIO Mane has finally broken his silence after tying the knot with his 19-year-old wife Aisha Tamba.
The ex-Liverpool star, 31, married the teen bride in a secret ceremony just days before leading Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
A happy Sadio spoke to local media following the Sunday wedding, admitting he was overjoyed after receiving so many congratulations.
“Honestly, I am happy [with] the fact the president has congratulated me just as much as, well, I would say not just my team-mates,” he said late on Tuesday.
“I think that all the people have congratulated me and wished me [luck] so I am happy and I hope that it’ll be okay.”
Mane also made light of jokes surrounding his marriage to his 19-year-old bride as Senegal’s president Macky Sall received the national squad ahead of AFCON.
“First of all, I would like to warmly congratulate our national Nianthi, Sadio Mane, who has just got married,” Sall said.
“I called him up so that we could applaud him and wish him a happy marriage.
“May God bless your home and your descendants. From now on you have another job apart from scoring goals.”
The ex-Bayern Munich was seen laughing and covering his face with his hands in response to the joke alongside his teammates.
Mane reportedly spotted his future wife when she was 16 but didn’t approach her formally at the time.
The legal age of consent in Senegal is 16 years of age.
Instead, he confided in his uncle, a friend of her father, which eventually led to their union, Sports Brief reported.
Other reports say that his new bride was 18 years old, but there are claims on social media that she is 26.
Pulse Sports also reported that Mane had taken care of her bills when she was in school.
The couple’s relationship is supposed to have been kept private until their wedding earlier this week, but friends, relatives, and former teammates are said to have attended the ceremony in Dakar.
On Tuesday night, Mane and Senegal landed in Ivory Coast for AFCON to wrap up their preparations for the tournament.
As Mane alluded to, the Lions of Teranga have been drawn into a group that includes two of their closest neighbours.
They will begin their championship defence against Gambia, a country almost totally surrounded by Senegal, on Monday in the political capital of Yamoussoukro.
Senegal will then face traditional powerhouses Cameroon on January 19, followed by another local derby against southern rivals Guinea on January 23, both at Yamoussoukro.
“We are also aware of all that awaits us,” the 31-year-old said.
“We know that it will not be easy but what is certain is that we will get there, we will do everything we can and everything that is on our side to do you proud and especially the dream of everybody, that’s to say, to retain the title and it’s what we are going to try to do.”
He continued: “‘Above all else, I think that the first match will be very decisive.
” After, as you said, it’s big teams, Gambia and Guinea are derbies, also Cameroon who need no introduction, but we are also Senegal.
“We are going to try to do the maximum.”
The Al-Nassr star’s comments come after videos showed his new missus beaming with joy moments before tying the knot.
Mane‘s “long-term girlfriend” was filmed grinning with happiness as she left a car, surrounded by singing friends and relatives.
Holding hands with who appears to be a family member, Aisha is also seen greeting multiple guests as the crowds guide her to the wedding venue.
Family, friends and fellow footballers are said to have attended the ceremony in Dakar.
Unlike her sports star spouse, Aisha appears to remain out of the spotlight and has no presence on social media.
According to Business Day, the couple married in a mosque in Keur Massar on Sunday – located in Dakar, Senegal’s capital.
The pair are from the same area of Senegal.
Snaps of the wedding were shared on Instagram and received more than 85,000 likes in less than 24 hours.
A video was also shared of the pair sat together holding hands as they posed for pictures.
In one snap, the pair can be seen photographed in front of a decorative sign that reads ”Mrs Mane”.
Before their nuptials, the footballer had kept the details of his relationship private.
But back in 2022, Mane did discuss the kind of person he was looking for as a partner.
In an Interview with Tribune, the former Liverpool forward said: “I’ve seen a lot of girls asking me why I am not married, but sorry you might be wasting your time. The woman I marry will not be on social networks.
“I want to marry a woman who respects God and prays well. Everyone has their own way of making their choice of love.”
The wedding comes after Pulse Sports reported that Mane opened a new stadium in his home town of Bambali earlier this month.
Mane did not disclose any personal relationships during his six-year spell at Liverpool.