Mane Declared Fit for Cup of Nations Quarter-Final

Senegal’s Sadio Mane, in action against Cape Verde, during their African Cup of Nations 2022 round of 16 match against Cape Verde at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam. (AP)
Senegal’s Sadio Mane, in action against Cape Verde, during their African Cup of Nations 2022 round of 16 match against Cape Verde at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam. (AP)
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Mane Declared Fit for Cup of Nations Quarter-Final

Senegal’s Sadio Mane, in action against Cape Verde, during their African Cup of Nations 2022 round of 16 match against Cape Verde at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam. (AP)
Senegal’s Sadio Mane, in action against Cape Verde, during their African Cup of Nations 2022 round of 16 match against Cape Verde at Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam. (AP)

Sadio Mane has been declared fit for Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Equatorial Guinea in Yaounde on Sunday, his country's football federation said, days after suffering a head knock that saw him taken to hospital.

After scoring the opening goal, the Liverpool star clashed heads with the opposing goalkeeper as Senegal beat the Cape Verde Islands in Tuesday's last-16 clash in Bafoussam and was forced to leave the field, looking groggy and with swelling on the side of his face.

He underwent examinations that showed no trace of concussion, said Senegal's doctor Abdourahmane Fédior.

"All the symptoms he had on the pitch are gone. His condition requires fairly close monitoring. Everything is normal on the X-ray," the doctor said in a statement released by the Senegalese federation.

Mane, The reigning African Footballer of the Year, posted a picture of himself on social media with the caption "recovering".

He is a major part of Senegal's hopes of winning their first continental championship in Cameroon. They were among the pre-tournament favorites but although they have reached the last eight, they have so far looked far from convincing.



Brentford Have a Chance of Playing in Europe but Manager Sounds Caution

Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Brentford - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - May 1, 2025  Brentford manager Thomas Frank celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Brentford - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - May 1, 2025 Brentford manager Thomas Frank celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
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Brentford Have a Chance of Playing in Europe but Manager Sounds Caution

Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Brentford - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - May 1, 2025  Brentford manager Thomas Frank celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Brentford - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - May 1, 2025 Brentford manager Thomas Frank celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Brentford’s surprise away win over Nottingham Forest on Thursday kept alive its hopes of a place in European club competition next season but manager Thomas Frank has sounded a cautious note about the team's chances.
The 2-0 victory left Brentford in 11th place in the Premier League but only two points off eight placed Fulham, Reuters reported. There is a chance that as many as 10 English clubs could qualify to play in Europe next season, but Frank warned Brentford’s destiny was not all in their own hands with four fixtures left in their league campaign.
"There is a few things that need to happen; the teams ahead of us need to get less points and we need Manchester City to win the FA Cup,” Frank told reporters after their win at the City Ground with goals from Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa.
"There's a few things that we cannot control ourselves,” he added.
"In our last 12 games we have been extremely consistent and performed well. There's another big game on Sunday which we will do our best to win."
Brentford host Manchester United next and then complete their campaign with away trips to Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers, with a home clash against Fulham sandwiched between.
Asked whether he felt Brentford were ready to compete in Europe, Frank said: "Ask me in three games’ time, then I'll answer the question.
"We're growing as a club and the team is growing. We would be more competitive if we didn't have as many injuries last year.
"We consistently performed at a good level. This season we had one bad game whereas the other season we have had three or four."
Brentford have never competed in European club competition and Frank told Sky Sports it could prove “tricky” for the club.
"Do you want to be a European club, but what is a European club?” he asked.
"Is that every year? If it is, then it depends on the size of the club, where the budget would need to be fairly linked to it. Money talks.
"The good thing for us is culture, strategy, hard work, clear principles and style of play. All those things we do quite well. It can raise your level and it has raised our level,” Frank said.