Sadio Mané and his teenage wife, Aisha Tamba, recently held a ‘bapteme’ ceremony in their homeland of Senegal to celebrate the naming of their newborn daughter, Animata.
The former Liverpool star, 32, and Tamba, 19, tied the knot in January 2024. Following their wedding, Tamba returned to school to complete her studies before joining Mané in Saudi Arabia eight months ago after his move to Al-Nassr in 2023. Earlier this month, the couple welcomed their first child, and her traditional naming ceremony took place last Thursday.
The intimate ‘bapteme’ celebration was held at Mané’s uncle’s house in Dakar, Senegal’s capital. Tamba’s mother arrived in an elegant yellow dress, while her father wore all-white for the joyous occasion. A video from the event showed family members clapping and dancing in celebration of Animata’s naming.
A Special Family Moment
Mané’s uncle, Ibrahima Touré, delivered a heartfelt speech on the steps of his home, paying tribute to the footballer and his family. The age gap between Mané and Tamba has drawn attention, as Mané was 31 and Tamba 18 at the time of their marriage.
Mané reportedly met Tamba when she was 16 and helped fund her final years of education. Her father previously shared that the footballer had noticed her “more than two years” before their wedding.
“My wife and Aisha visited their (Mané’s) family one day, and this is where he met her for the first time,” Tamba’s father revealed. “He probably saw something special in her, and his parents appreciated her as well. They came to see me, and we followed tradition, discussing and agreeing on everything. They were not dating because Aisha was still young.”
Looking Ahead
In January, Mané shared his thoughts on starting a family, expressing his hopes for three or four children but ultimately leaving it in God’s hands.
“If it were just my choice, I’d say three or four,” he told Senepeopleplus. “But it is God who decides, and I will be grateful no matter what. I’m leaning toward three or four, but we’ll see.”
Following the ceremony, Mané quickly returned to Saudi Arabia to play in Al-Nassr’s match against Al-Kholood on Friday night. His team secured a 3-1 victory, with Mané scoring his side’s second goal. He dedicated his goal to his newborn daughter by celebrating with a rocking motion, symbolizing his love and joy as a new father.