Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane was forced off with a suspected concussion during Senegal‘s Africa Cup of Nations victory over Cape Verde on Tuesday.
The former Southampton man went in for a 50-50 with goalkeeper Vozinha following a long ball over the top in the 53rd minute, which culminated in both players hitting the deck after a nasty clash of heads.
Mane appeared to have been knocked clean out by the challenge – for which Vozinha was sent off – but the Senegal attacker controversially played on and broke the deadlock in some style with a curling effort in the 63rd minute.
However, Mane ultimately dropped down to the turf again with 20 minutes remaining and was helped to his feet by teammates before staggering off the field.
Sadio Mané goes down with suspected concussion after scoring for Senegal 🤕 pic.twitter.com/OozPqQaFHv
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 25, 2022
The severity of Mane’s suspected concussion is currently unclear, but the 29-year-old has emerged as a major doubt for the AFCON quarter-finals, with Senegal set to face either Mali or Equatorial Guinea in the last eight.
Mane’s replacement Bamba Dieng scored Senegal’s second in their 2-0 win over Cape Verde in the last-16, with the Marseille man wrapping up the victory in the second minute of second-half injury time.
Mane has 10 goals to his name for Liverpool in all competitions this season, with Jurgen Klopp‘s side back in action against Cardiff City in the FA Cup on February 6 following the break.