Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane, 32, speaks for first time since welcoming his first child with teenage wife – after the pair tied the knot last year
Sadio Mane has spoken for the first time since he and his teenage wife welcomed the birth of their first child earlier this month.
The former Liverpool star, 32, tied the knot with Aisha Tamba, 19, in January 2024 before she returned to school to complete her studies.
Tamba only left school eight months ago to join Mane in Saudi Arabia following his move to Al-Nassr in 2023.
The couple have now welcomed their first child together and christened her with the name Aminata last Thursday, with the ceremony taking place in Senegal’s capital city, Dakar, at Mane’s uncle’s house.
Al-Nassr shared a video to social media on Monday, which showed Mane walking buoyantly through the club’s facilities and reciting a meaningful passage from the Quran.
Citing verse 46 of Surah Al-Kahf, which has been translated to English, Mane said: ‘Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But good deeds that persist have a better reward with your Lord and [raise] a good hope.’
Sadio Mane has spoken for the first time since he and his wife, 19, welcomed their first child
The ex-Liverpool star, 32, and Aisha Tamba, 19, christened daughter Aminata earlier this month
The Al-Nassr star and Tamba tied the knot in January 2024 when he was 31 and she was 18
The video has chalked up over 14,000 likes on social media platform X at the time of writing, with the Quran passage appearing to reaffirm his faith and commitment to Islam.
Al-Nassr accompanied the video with a few words to congratulate Mane. The club said: ‘A new blessing for Sadio Mane! Wishing him and his family endless joy.’
A video from Animata’s baptism ceremony was also shared online, showing family members dancing and clapping in celebration.
Tamba’s mother made a grand arrival in a traditional yellow dress, while her father dressed in all-white for the joyous occasion.
Mane’s uncle, Ibrahima Toure, then made a statement to mark the baptism on the steps outside his home where he paid tribute to the footballer and his family.
Much has been made of the age gap between Mane and his wife given he was 31 when they married, while Tamba was just 18.
Mane is believed to have met Tamba when she was aged 16 and paid for her final years in school, with her father revealing the star first set eyes on her ‘more than two years’ before the wedding.
Tamba’s father said last year: ‘My wife and Aisha visited their (Mane’s) family one day, and this is where he met her for the first time.
The baptism was a joyous occasion, with guests dancing and clapping during the ceremony
Mane scored for Al-Nassr the day after the baptism and dedicated his goal to his newborn child
‘He [Mane] probably saw something special in her and his parents appreciated her as well. They came to see me.
‘We discussed as per the tradition, agreed on everything and waited for this day to happen. They were not dating because Aisha was still young.’
Back in January, Mane spoke about starting a family with Tamba as he revealed how many children he would like to have with his wife.
‘If it is just a choice, I would say three or four (children),’ he told Senepeopleplus. ‘Except that it is God who decides and I will thank Him no matter what.
‘Whatever the number is, I will accept it. I am leaning more towards three or four and we will see about the rest.’
Mane returned to Saudi Arabia shortly after Thursday’s baptism to play in Al-Nassr’s match against Al-Kholood on Friday night.
Al-Nassr picked up a 3-1 win, with Mane scoring his side’s second, and he dedicated his goal to his baby daughter by doing a rocking motion for his celebration.
