The father of Sadio Mane's 18-year-old bride has revealed how the pair had a traditional arranged marriage and did not date before exchanging vows.
The Liverpool legend and current Al Nassr star, 31, tied the knot with Aisha Tamba in an Islamic ceremony on January 7 in Keur Massar, Dakar, Senegal. The wedding took place less than a week before the start of Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The actual ceremony took place in the home of Mane's wife, while family and friends of both the bride and groom were in attendance. Ex-Reds ace Mane has known Tamba since she was at least 16 years of age according to her father.
Amadou Tamba, revealed after the ceremony that his daughter is only 18 and that Mane, 13 years her senior, met her for the first time 'more than two years ago' while she was visiting family with her mother.
"My wife and Aisha visited their (Mane's) family one day, and this is where he met her for the first time," Tamba explained. "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."
He went on to add: "They were not dating because Aisha was still young."
Though Mane only met his wife around two years ago, the Champions League winner has known his new father-in-law for significantly longer. Mr Tamba works in the construction industry and has completed projects for the Mane family since 2013.
The contractor continued to heap praise on his daughter's new husband, claiming: "I knew that Sadio and all his family are very good and humble people. Sadio is just the reflection of his family. However, as a father I also needed to know more about him, his education, his faith in God, humility. And I came to know much more that he is a good person.
"Sadio and I talk much about the projects, but we also talk about life in general and he taught me a lot, although he is still young. He knows a lot about life, and I learnt much from him. So, that's why I didn't hesitate to accept his request to marry Aisha."
Aisha's father was also pressed for comment on whether he had any advice for Mane heading into marriage, to which he replied: "I would like to tell him that marriage is not easy. I would advise him to treat her like his own daughter, his own sister. To support her."
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Mane's marriage even drew comment from Senegal president Macky Sall, who joked that the forward now "has another job apart from scoring goals." The comment drew laughter from the former Bayern Munich man, who was spotted chuckling awkwardly while covering his face with his hands.
The Senegal ace has also issued his own comment since the wedding, revealing his delight at all the well-wishes he has received. "Honestly, I am happy [with] the fact the president has congratulated me just as much as, well, I would say not just my team-mates.
"I think that all the people have congratulated me and wished me [luck] so I am happy and I hope that it'll be okay."
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