El Hadji Diouf Believes Sadio Mane Is 'Following In His Footsteps'

El Hadji Diouf claims compatriot Sadio Mane is "following in his footsteps" with his performances for Liverpool and Senegal.

Mane has been a revelation on Merseyside after signing from Southampton in a £34 million move in 2016, scoring 62 goals in 127 appearances.

Last season, the former Red Bull Salzburg played an integral part in Liverpool's sixth European Cup triumph as well as being joint top scorer in the Premier League last season with 22 goals.

Two-time African Player of the Year Diouf, who scored 28 goals in the Premier League, did not have a bad word to say about Mane.

Image: PA

"[Mane] is following in my footsteps," he told FIFA's official website, via the Liverpool Echo.

"He's doing an incredible job. He's a fantastic ambassador for Senegal. Now he has a chance to write his own story. And on top of being a superb player, he's also a great guy - humble, generous and always available for other people. We have a special relationship."

Diouf, who won the League Cup with Liverpool in 2003, also talked about Mane's understanding with Mo Salah and how well the two complement one another.

"You can't have one without the other," Diouf added.

"One of them's left-footed [Salah] and the other's right-footed [Mane]. Sadio needs Mo like Mo needs Sadio. They have the same qualities: speed of execution and skill in their final touch.

"Salah is perhaps a little more effective in front of goal because he puts in less defensive work than Mane, but I'll say it again: you can't have one without the other."

Mane continues to excel on the pitch but he remains a class act of it. In July, after experiencing heartbreak in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Algeria, Sadio Mane returned to the village he grew up in to check on how the construction of school he's financing is coming along.

The Champions League-winning Liverpool winger donated over £200,000 so that the next generation of kids in Bambali have a new secondary school to give them opportunity to prosper in life like he did.

Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Senegal, Football, Sadio Mane

Josh Lawless

Josh is a writer who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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