Liverpool's former player and current Al-Nassr forward, Sadio Mané, got married in a secret ceremony to his 19-year-old girlfriend, Aisha Tamba, just days before departing for Ivory Coast to compete in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, the current champions.

Sadio Mané spoke to local media after marrying his girlfriend on the past Sunday, admitting he is happy to have received numerous congratulatory messages and support.

"Honestly, I am happy [with] the fact that the president has congratulated me just as much as, well, I would say not just my teammates," he said.

"I think that all the people have congratulated me and wished me [luck], so I am happy and I hope that it'll be okay," added the Senegalese player.

Mané also made light of jokes surrounding his marriage to his 19-year-old wife. Senegal's president, Macky Sall, also sent supportive messages.

"In the first place, I would like to warmly congratulate our compatriot Nianthi, Sadio Mané, who has just got married," Sall said.

"May God bless your home and your descendants. From now on, you have another job apart from scoring goals," Macky Sall expressed.

Other reports suggest that the ceremony was kept secret, but several relatives, friends, and former teammates attended the wedding of the current Al-Nassr player.

On the other hand, Mané has already joined the Senegal national team since Tuesday to begin preparations for the defense of the AFCON title in Ivory Coast. For this, the 31-year-old player commented:

"We are aware of all that awaits us. We know it will not be easy, but what is certain is that we will get there, we will do everything we can and everything that is on our side to make you proud, especially the dream
of everybody, that is, to retain the title, and that's what we are going to try to do," concluded Mané.

Senegal will debut in the AFCON on Monday, January 15, against Gambia, then face Cameroon on January 19, and finally finish their group stage participation against Guinea on Tuesday, January 23.