Just Few Hours After Playing Against Each Other, Mane and Mendy Jet Off To Senegal For The 2021 AFCON Tournament.

Liverpool star Sadio Mane, and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy were pictured on a plane together heading to represent their home country for the upcoming African cup of Nations which begins on January 9, with Cameroon the host nation.

The Senegalese duo had just finished a cracking battle against each other for their respective clubs on Sunday evening.

The game between Chelsea and Liverpool was a very important tie which would determine the hopes of their title challenge this season, so the presence of all key players was needed, and a deal was negotiated to keep the African players just for the special day.

Both teams ended the game in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, which saw Mane capitalised on a mistake from Trevor Chalobah, and score past his fellow compatriot Mendy in the 9th minute of the encounter.

Mo Salah made it 2-0 in the 29th minute, before a Mateo Kovacic stunner and a goal from Christian Pulisic levelled the score for the Blues as they fought back just before half-time.

After the game Edouard Mendy told RMC Sport; "Sadio Mane is my brother, my compatriot. But he should not have stayed on the pitch after one minute."

"He should have been sent off for elbowing Chelsea team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta.

It happened that a long ball was played out to Mane on the left who caught Cesar Azpilicueta with an elbow on the air just six seconds in the action parked game as both players jumed to meet  the ball.

Mane was controversially not sent off for the elbow on Azpilicueta, but was rather shown a yellow card which left Chelsea players and fans furious claiming VAR did not check the situation.

Despite Mendy's comment, both players of Senegalese origin were all-smiles, as Mendy shared a picture on Instagram of the pair heading off to the African Cup of Nations which takes place in Cameroon.

They will go from opponents to being teammates with Senegal's first match taking place on Monday, January 10 against Zimbabwe.  

The Teranga Lions are a strong favorite to win the 33rd edition of the AFCON tournament this year, and are grouped alongside Guinea, Malawi, Zimbabwe in group B.

They finished second in Egypt 2019 after losing 1-0 to Champions Algeria.