Senegalese superstar Sadio Mane has declared that Al Nassr remains fully committed to overhauling Al Hilal in the race for the Saudi Pro League crown. Fresh from securing a second consecutive Africa Cup of Nations trophy with Senegal, Mane returned to club action on Monday, playing a pivotal role in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Al Taawoun. The win, secured by a Mohammed Al Dossari own goal in the 45th minute, keeps Cristiano Ronaldo’s side within five points of the league leaders as the competition enters its final stretch.
Mane has already contributed six goals and six assists across 18 appearances this season, forming a potent attacking partnership with Ronaldo. Despite the current deficit in the standings, the former Liverpool forward emphasized that the squad possesses the mental resilience and depth to close the gap. Al Nassr capitalized on Al Hilal’s recent draw against Al Riyadh to gain ground, and Mane believes the upcoming fixture list provides ample opportunity for a dramatic shift at the top of the table.
The veteran attacker’s return provides a massive boost for manager Jorge Jesus, as Al Nassr prepares for a demanding schedule in February, including both domestic and continental commitments. Mane’s leadership and championship-winning experience with Senegal are expected to be vital factors as the Riyadh-based club hunts for its first league title since 2019. Fans at Al-Awwal Park gave the AFCON champion a hero’s welcome, reinforcing the bond between the player and the supporters as the title race intensifies.
Sadio Mane outlined his determined outlook to the media following the Monday night win: “It won’t be easy — we know that — but we’ll keep pushing as a team until the end. Because we still have so many games left, anything could happen. We will not give up. We’ll keep pushing, with the whole team and the fans, and go all the way to the end. We will do everything possible to win the title and fight hard for the fans who have always supported us. Of course, now is the time to win a trophy. We have a good chance this season to win the league again, but it won’t be easy. We’re five points behind, but the season is still a long way to go — there’s really, really a lot of time left. So, we’ll keep moving forward and work really hard as a team. At the end of the day, try to be the best.”
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