Why Sadio Mane shunned Europe-based Ladies to marry home girl Aisha Tamba

Football superstar Sadio Mane has married his 19-year-old girlfriend Aisha Tamba in a private ceremony in his home country of Senegal.

The wedding is believed to have taken place on January 7 in Keur Massar, an area in the capital city of Dakar, just six days before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations on January 13.

The event was said to be attended by family, friends, and fellow footballers. 

Reports claim Aisha 'was long intended for the 31-year-old footballer since her teenage years' though it is not known exactly how long they have been dating. The legal age of consent in Senegal is 16 years of age.

It was also reported that the former Liverpool star had taken care of her bills when she was in school.

The couple share the same religion, Islam, and are both said to be private people. A few of the official wedding photos were shared on @SMane_Officiel, with the caption 'thanks to God' written in Arabic.

Pictures of the wedding have been published on Instagram by photography company @Magvision_Evens_Officiel. The photos show Mane and his wife, who grew up in the Casamance area of Senegal and is the daughter of an architect, holding hands and posing after the ceremony.

One image shows the pair sitting below a display of roses, with the words 'Mrs Mane' imprinted on the wall.

A video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by @abdullahayofel showed the two smiling and laughing as they sat together on a sofa after their wedding.

It was captioned: 'A very simple and humble man, congratulations Sadio Mane. May Allah bless your union.'

The wedding photos show Aisha wearing a mermaid-style intricate, fitted, lacey dress, with long sleeves and a silky veil.

Other photos show a second outfit - a silk white top and skirt combo, which she has teamed with a chunky gold necklace and earrings. The bride also has henna on both hands.

Mane is seen wearing a traditional Senegalese dress in the pictures. 

During his time at Liverpool, Mane had not publicly announced any relationships and had kept Aisha a secret.

Back in 2022, he had however spoken out on the type of person that he would marry.

'I've seen a lot of girls asking me why I am not married, but sorry you might be wasting your time. The woman I marry will not be on social networks,' Mane said according to Tribune.

'I want to marry a woman who respects God and prays well. Everyone has their way of making their choice of love,' Mane added.

The footballer first spotted Aisha when she was 16 but he did not approach her formally at the time, according to Sports Brief.

However, he reportedly communicated his intentions to his uncle, a friend of the family, which led to their eventual union.

Mane joined Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in a deal that will see him earn £ 650,000 per week.