Legendary forwards Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah enter the Afcon 2025 quarter-finals facing a final opportunity for continental glory as a new generation of talent emerges.
Veteran forwards Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah are preparing for a decisive Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final stage, aware that their international windows are closing.
Mahrez, the 34-year-old Algerian captain, showed visible delight following a dramatic 119th-minute victory over DR Congo.
With Morocco and Nigeria also looming in the bracket, the tournament represents a high-stakes comeback for the former Manchester City star after recent international disappointments.
The tournament has seen a resurgence for the aging icons, with Salah scoring in three consecutive matches and Mane providing four goal contributions.
However, the emergence of younger talents like Algeria’s Adil Boulbina and Senegal’s Nicolas Jackson signals an impending transition.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw called Mane “remarkable, a blessing to have in our team, excellent at every level all tournament,” even as the next generation begins to secure starting roles.
Off-field uncertainty adds weight to the campaign, particularly for Salah, whose future at Liverpool remains “as uncertain as it ever has been.”
Like Mahrez and Mane, Salah may soon transition to the Saudi Pro League, marking a shift in the landscape of African football.
While their experience remains vital to their respective nations’ title hopes, the trio understands that the countdown to their final Afcon appearance has officially begun.