Sadio Mane shows his true colors with gesture to Mohamed Salah in AFCON tunnel

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah share a complicated relationship from their days tearing up the Premier League with Liverpool, and the two are going head-to-head for a place in the AFCON final

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane reunited ahead of Egypt and Senegal's clash in the AFCON semi-final(Image: X @TheRedmenTV)

Sadio Mane shared a touching moment with Mohamed Salah as the pair embraced ahead of the African Cup of Nations clash between Senegal and Egypt.

The former Liverpool teammates endured a fractured relationship during their time at Anfield, but warmly embraced in the tunnel before the Cup of Nations semi-final. Salah and Mane played together for five seasons, contributing to four major trophy wins at Anfield, including the Premier League and Champions League.

The duo formed part of a revered attacking trio along with Roberto Firmino under Jurgen Klopp. Given their history, Liverpool fans will be pleased to see the embrace between Salah and Mane ahead of the crucial clash.

However, the pleasantries didn’t last long. Salah tripped Mane in the late stages of the first half, being whistled for a foul that prompted both benches to clear out.

While the foul from Salah was relatively harmless, the tackle prevented Mane from launching a counterattack for Senegal. The reaction from the sidelines was somewhat out of proportion, but perhaps not surprising given the tension of the occasion.

Mane served as a peacemaker, calling on both sets of coaches to return to their respective benches. Habib Diarra was eventually shown a yellow card for his complaints, which heartbreakingly rules him out of the final should Senegal win the last-four clash in Tangier.

The incident came at the end of an eventless first half in which Egypt failed to secure a single shot on target. The winner between Egypt and Senegal will face Nigeria or Morocco in Sunday's AFCON final.

Mohamed Salah's foul on Sadio Mane caused a touchline fracas shortly before halftime(Image: Getty Images)

Salah and Mane have shared history at the tournament and met in the 2021 final, which Senegal won on penalties. It was another layer to the pair’s intriguing relationship, with Salah confirming the duo weren’t as close off the pitch as they were on it.

“Yes, there was tension with Sadio,” the 33-year-old confirmed in an interview with L'Equipe last year.

“Mind you, we were professional until the end. I don't think it affected the team. It's human to want more. I understand that he's a competitor.

“Off the pitch, we weren't very close, but we always respected each other.”

At the current AFCON, Salah has four goals in as many games to help Egypt reach the last four as he chases a first title. Meanwhile, Mane has a goal and three assists in five appearances for Senegal, but he has won the tournament before.

In the shootout between Egypt and Senegal in 2021, Mane scored the decisive penalty in the 4-2 victory. Named Player of the Tournament, Mane contributed three goals and two assists, overcoming a missed early penalty in the final to seal the historic win.