However, the Chelsea goalkeeper said that his “brother” should have been sent off just hours earlier, so it may have been an awkward flight.

The two 29-year-old Senegalese players left London on Sunday night for Cameroon, where they will join their national team for the postponed continental competition.

Mane, on the other hand, grabbed headlines in the afternoon when, only SIX SECONDS into Liverpool’s match at Stamford Bridge, he avoided being sent off.

The striker used an elbow to strike Cesar Azpilicueta as they were preparing for a long ball.

However, referee Anthony Taylor gave him a yellow card.

Azpilicueta was upset at the end of the game and had a black eye, thus he described the challenge as a “clear red.”

Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea’s manager, stated that VAR did not even review the verdict. Mendy, Mane’s national teammate and buddy, battled to keep him back.

“Sadio is my brother and fellow countryman,” the goalkeeper told RMC Sport. However, he should not have stayed on the field for another minute.

Worse, Mane scored the first goal of the enthralling contest eight minutes in.

Trevoh Chalobah capitalized on Mendy’s error, passing the ball around him and into the net.

Following that, Mo Salah scored past Senegal’s leading scorer to make it 2-0, but Christian Pulisic and Mateo Kovacic knotted the game before halftime. Malawi, Zimbabwe, Guinea, and Senegal make up Group B, with Mane and Mendy leading the charge.

They will play their first AFCON encounter against Zimbabwe on January 10 at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam.