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Liverpool fans won't like what Sadio Mane said about swapping Champions League glory
SADIO MANE has risked the wrath of Liverpool fans by revealing he’d swap the Reds’ Champions League triumph for African Cup of Nations glory.
Liverpool won their sixth European Cup earlier this month with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham in Madrid.
The Merseysiders' Champions League triumph capped off a truly impressive season for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who narrowly missed out on winning the Premier League.
Mane was over the moon to have helped the Reds become the third most-winning team in European Cup history.
However, a few weeks removed from becoming a Champions League winner, the former Southampton man has revealed he’d swap his European Cup win if meant his native Senegal won the African Cup of Nations.
He said: “Winning the competition with our country, who have never won, would be amazing.
"I would swap the Champions League with Liverpool for an African Cup win with Senegal.
"We'd have an extraordinary return home. It's my big dream."
Despite admitting he trade that night in Madrid for international glory, Mane does hold Liverpool's Champions League triumph close to his hear.
I would swap the Champions League with Liverpool for an African Cup win with Senegal
He said: “To be honest I think the dream became true. “I don’t even know how happy I am, I could not believe until now. I think I’m still dreaming.
“I think last year was not easy. It was really hard but that’s football. That makes people love football.
“The lesson we learned is in many ways, in many things.
"We’ve got more experience and at the same time we’re used to playing this type of game. That made it easier."
Mane is optimistic about Senegal’s chances of winning their first African Cup of Nations trophy, saying: "It's in our hands.
“It's clear that we're one of the favourites. "We can't deny it.
“It's not just enough to get results, but we have to be at our best level in every match."
Senegal kicked off their AFCON campaign on Sunday night, beating Tanzania 2-0.