However, the Chelsea goalkeeper remarked that his “brother” should have been sent off just hours earlier, making the flight to Cameroon potentially awkward.

The two 29-year-old Senegalese players departed London on Sunday night for Cameroon, where they will join their national team for the postponed continental competition.

Mane made headlines in the afternoon when, only SIX SECONDS into Liverpool’s match at Stamford Bridge, he avoided a red card. The striker used an elbow to strike Cesar Azpilicueta as they were preparing for a long ball. However, referee Anthony Taylor only issued a yellow card.

Azpilicueta, visibly upset at the end of the match with a black eye, described the challenge as a “clear red.” Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel added that VAR did not even review the decision. Mendy, Mane’s national teammate and close friend, struggled to keep his emotions in check.

“Sadio is my brother and fellow countryman,” the goalkeeper told RMC Sport. “However, he should not have stayed on the field for another minute.”

Worse, Mane went on to score the opening goal of the thrilling match just eight minutes in. Trevoh Chalobah took advantage of a mistake by Mendy, passing the ball around him and into the net. Following that, Mo Salah scored past Mendy to make it 2-0, but Christian Pulisic and Mateo Kovacic leveled the game before halftime.

Mane and Mendy, as leaders of Group B alongside Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Guinea, will now shift focus to their national duties in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Sadio Mane’s team will face Zimbabwe in their first AFCON match on January 10 at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam.