Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane and his Senegal team are gearing up for an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Egypt, and he'll be supported by his wife, Aisha Tamba
Ben Crawford GAU Writer
05:00, 14 Jan 2026
Senegal and Egypt are set to clash in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on Thursday evening. And former Liverpool star Sadio Mane will be backed by his wife, Aisha Tamba, whom he wed when she was 18 years old.
So far, Senegal have only let in two goals in the tournament, securing their place in the semi-finals with a 1-0 victory over Mali. The ex-Liverpool winger has scored once in the competition, but now faces a challenge from Egypt and former colleague Mohamed Salah.
Mane, 33, plays for Al Nassr and tied the knot with Aisha in January 2024, when she was reportedly 18. It's believed they first crossed paths two years earlier through family connections. The ECHO takes a look at their relationship.
The Wedding
In 2024, as Mane and Senegal were gearing up to defend their AFCON title, having triumphed over Egypt in the 2021 final, the former Liverpool ace said his vows to Aisha.
The ceremony took place according to Islamic traditions in Keur Massar, Dakar, Senegal, at the residence of Mane's bride. Family and friends of both the bride and groom were present to witness the union.
Aisha's father revealed that she first met Mane, who is 13 years her senior, when she was 16, and the couple did not date prior to their marriage. Amadou Tamba shared: "My wife and Aisha visited their (Mane's) family one day, and this is where he met her for the first time.
"He probably saw something special in her, and his parents appreciated her as well. They came to see me. We discussed, as per the tradition, agreed on everything and waited for this day to happen. They were not dating because Aisha was still young."
Graduation
Fast forward to 2024, there was another cause for celebration as Mane marked the teenage Aisha's graduation from school, where she received her baccalaureate.
Reports suggest that Mane had planned a honeymoon following their wedding and the subsequent AFCON tournament, but Aisha's family wanted her to remain focused on her studies ahead of her final exams.
In June of that year, a video surfaced on social media showing Mane celebrating with Aisha as she received her results and completed secondary education. She reportedly earned her diploma with a passable distinction.
How many children do they want?
In March 2025, approximately 14 months after the couple exchanged vows, a 19-year-old Aisha gave birth to their first child, a baby girl. Mane dedicated a goal for Al Nassr to his newborn shortly after her birth, displaying a cradling gesture during a 3-1 victory against Al-Kholood.
However, according to Mane, if the decision were solely his, he would be open to expanding their family further, though he maintains that it is ultimately in God's hands.
In a chat with Senepeopleplus, when probed about his desired number of children, Mane responded: "Funny question. If it is just a choice, I would say 3 or 4. Except that it is God who decides and I will thank him no matter what."
When the Senegalese ace was further asked if he'd consider having an even larger brood, say six or seven kids, he retorted: "Maybe, you never know."