Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane tied the knot on Sunday, January 7 with his longtime girlfriend Aisha Tamba in a private wedding ceremony held in Dakar, Senegal.
The announcement of the forward’s wedding came as a surprise to many football fans, considering his love life has famously been kept a close secret.
The new wife of the two-time African Ballon ‘Or winner was born in Casamance, a town bordering Bambali, the village where her husband hails from. She is 18 years old, according to the Senegalese news outlet, and she is the daughter of an architect.
Mane is said to have first spotted Tamba when she was just 16 years old but he did not approach her formally since she was a minor at the time. However, he reportedly communicated his intentions to his uncle, who is a friend of the family, which paved the way for their eventual union.
With his usual discretion, Sadio Mané orchestrated the event in utmost secrecy, and it was only at the last minute that the world of Senegalese and African football became aware of it.
A few days before committing to his wife, Mane presented a stadium he built to the people of his hometown – Bambali – before heading off for his AFCON duties.
The now Mrs Mane is reportedly a scholar of the Quran – the Islamic holy text – having spent most of her youthful days studying at a private institute in Mbao. She is in her final year of school.
The romantic event was said to have been attended by friends, family, and former players, as well as the players from Senegal’s national team.
