Sadio Mane Falls Unconscious Due To Concussion Before Scoring Wonder Goal For Senegal [Watch]

Liverpool FC star Sadio Mane suffered a concussion while playing for Senegal in their last-16 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tie with Cape Verde. The forward stayed on the pitch to only score a wonder goal a few minutes later.

Mane appeared to be knocked unconscious after being clanked by Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar Dias, who came out to stop the ball that bounced on the edge of his area in the 52nd minute. As a result, the Liverpool forward went down and Dias was sent off.

The replays show that Mane fell unconscious when Dias slammed into him. After a lengthy VAR check, the Cape Verde gloveman was sent off, bringing the side down to nine men after Patrick Andrade received a red card in the first half.

Even though Mane looked concussed, the Liverpool winger was allowed to continue on the field.

Mane collected a half-cleared corner on the edge of the Cape Verde penalty area in the 63rd minute and scored an excellent curled strike into underside of the crossbar. That turned out to be one of his final actions in the match after he went down holding his head as the effects of the earlier blow took hold and he was subbed off on 70 minutes.

Marseille's 21-year-old forward Bamba Dieng doubled Senegal’s lead in the stoppage time to seal the game 2-0 as his side progressed to AFCON’s quarter-final. Senegal's next opponents are either Mali or Equatorial Guinea, who are set to play on Wednesday.

"It was a difficult game because Cape Verde were very organized. It was even more difficult after the first red card as they really ran around a bit but we can be happy we did the job," said Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly after his side’s win, according to ESPN.

"Sadio had a big shock with the goalkeeper and I haven't heard from him yet, he was dizzy and he is currently in the hospital. We will have news later. I hope he is doing very well," Senegal’s head coach Aliou Cisse said after the final whistle, according to Liverpool Echo.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will hope Mane’s injury is not serious as the Senegalese player is a vital cog of the team and the Reds are very much alive in every competition at this point of the 2021-22 season.

Mane has scored 10 goals and an assist in 26 competitive matches for Liverpool this term. Klopp’s side is placed second in the Premier League table and is nine points behind leaders Manchester City.

Liverpool are set to face off against Chelsea in the League Cup final next month.