I backed Senegal to win AFCON because of Mane - Yaya Toure heaps huge praise on Mane

Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has joined the ling retinue of stars to congratulate Senegal and Sadio Mane for winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.

The former Ivory-Coast international particularly singled out Liverpool forward Sadio Mane for his role in helping the West-African country win their first-ever AFCON trophy after two failed attempts.

Toure told BBC Three that Mane showed mental strength by going up to take the final and decisive kick in the penalty shootout despite already missing from the spot during regulation time. 

"You have to give huge credit to Sadio Mane. He missed the first one and scored the last one for his team to win the trophy.

"He was just precise [when it came to the shootout], focused and that is the best way to do it. That one was a top draw. Perfection.”

The 38-year-old also revealed that he was a fan of the Teranga Lions during the AFCON tournament largely due to Mane being 'fantastic.'

"I was a fan of Senegal. Sadio Mane was fantastic," Toure concluded.

Toure also won the Africa Cup of Nations trophy with Ivory Coast in 2015 after the Elephants suffered heartbreak in three previous finals.