"I was wrong": Claude Le Roy's powerful admission about the Senegalese star! | OneFootball

Claude Le Roy admits his mistake: "Sadio Mané blew me away at AFCON"

Claude Le Roy / @x.com/LeFoot225/

French coach Claude Le Roy has admitted that he misjudged the physical condition of some of Africa's football stars. He especially praised the outstanding performance of Sadio Mané during AFCON Morocco 2025, which left him deeply impressed.

The "White Sorcerer" tips his hat to Sadio Mané after AFCON

Nicknamed the "White Sorcerer," Le Roy revealed during a television appearance on On Sport channel: "I used to say that players like Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed Salah, or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could no longer deliver much in terms of physical consistency for several reasons. I even thought Omar Marmoush was more physically prepared than Salah during the tournament."

He then added: "But Sadio Mané looked like he was on a special mission, from the first to the last minute of the competition."

The French coach stressed that the level displayed by the Senegalese striker exceeded all expectations, especially after his move to the Saudi league: "He was impressive, even physically. He completely surprised me. Many told me he had left the Premier League for Saudi Arabia, where the pace and quality are different. But I was wrong. His level during the tournament was exceptional."

It's worth noting that the "Lions of Teranga" won the AFCON for the second time in their history, after their victory in the final against Morocco (1-0), at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.