When Sadio Mane failed to deliver on his AFCON return

Senegal's forward Sadio Mane runs during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Senegal and Algeria at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo on June 27, 2019. [AFP]

A lot of talk, as has been with most tournaments, is about big teams under-performing and their top stars failing to show up.

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament is no different. Senegal, one of the pre-tournament favourites, failed to deliver when they were expected to. Worse, their talisman, the Liverpool forward and Champions League winner Sadio Mane was not at his optimum.