Bench to battleground: Mane ignites Al Nassr as CAN looms and the race tightens

Impact from the bench and a night of clinical finishing

The Senegalese forward Sadio Mane, of Al Nassr, added another chapter of brilliance by scoring in the 4-0 win over Istiklol Dushanbe of Tajikistan, in the AFC Champions League group stage.

Mane appeared as a substitute in a competition where Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus leans on players who do not regularly feature in the Roshn Saudi Pro League, to keep the squad rotating, especially as the side cruises at the top of the league.

Mane registered his sixth goal of the season and also set up six more, proving he remains a vital component of the Riyadh club’s attacking engine across three of the four competitions this campaign.

Even as he came on with the score already at two and qualification virtually secured for Asia, the Senegalese forward showed mental sharpness with a superb strike, reminiscent of the clever goal he scored against Al Khaleej in the previous league match.

Just as he netted the third against Al Khaleej, he also struck the third in another 4-0 victory; Mane’s goals always carry extra significance.

Against Al Gulf, Mane managed to quell a wave of attacking momentum from the opposition that nearly yielded an equalizer, after Murad Hosawi had scored a wonderful goal, while goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqeedi defended his net with bravery in front of several clear chances.

It was time for Al Nassr to seal the win with a third and sit on the cusp of three more points, instead of risking a late drama, especially as bitter rivals Al Hilal closed in at the top with their own strong results.

Mane struck in a beautiful fashion at a moment that gave his side a lead before Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic goal completed the 4-0 scoreline.

Winter winds, CAN ahead, and a season of battles

There is a renewed emphasis on Mane’s attacking output as matches flow, with Jesus known for a ruthless approach that won’t coddle players who fail to shine if alternatives can rise to the occasion.

Jesus has begun integrating Brazilian duo Wesley and Angelo Gabriel into the forward line, meaning a player who is not thriving may lose his place if a better option steps up.

With Angelo Gabriel specifically used as a versatile frontman, the coach may deploy him on the wing if Mane runs out of peak form.

But the “Lion of the Teranga” is on an upward trajectory and earned a strong rating in the win over Gulf, with SofaScore placing him among the top performers at 8.2, while even his late cameo against Istiklol scored 7.0.

Once again Mane’s strengths—his ability to weave through defenses and win one-on-one duels—highlight why doubts about his impact at the highest level are no longer sustainable.

Winter winds in Africa: Mane’s form comes as he prepares to lead Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a tournament many expect to be dominated by the home side and a few others, with Senegal among the contenders.

Senegal is banking on Mane and his teammates to chase the title, or at least a deep run, in a tournament considered extremely competitive given the Moroccan-host context and the quality across the field.

New battles ahead: Mane will be sorely missed by Al Nassr during January’s AFCON schedule, should Senegal advance far, with Nassr set to face Al Ahli in Jeddah on January 2, Qadisiyah on January 8, and then visit their arch-rivals Al Hilal on January 12.

With Mane away, the club’s challenge to defend the league title—now looking more feasible than ever—will be tested in his absence. His numbers this season read 6 goals in 17 appearances, a step down from 18 in 47 last season, but still a valuable output for a squad juggling multiple competitions.

Punchline 1: If life were soccer, Mane would bench-dink the ball into the net and claim the assist for the air conditioning. Punchline 2: When the bench is the stage, Mane can still headline a show that would make even the scoreboard take a bow.