Rabat – French sports newspaper L’Équipe has reported that Sadio Mané has not retired from international football.
The French sports outlet said that a fake statement circulating on social media announced the Senegal star’s retirement, suggesting that the rumor originated from an AI-generated letter that was mistakenly republished by several media outlets.
Among them was beIN Sports, which published a report quoting the fake rumors, claiming that Mané had announced his retirement from international football.
beIN said that the 34-year-old revealed his decision in an “emotional letter” published by the Senegalese newspaper Le Quotidien.
“Know that I sacrificed everything for this flag. I gave everything and always fought fiercely for our country. Your unwavering support has been the driving force behind my success,” the fake letter reads.
L’Équipe quoted the specialized outlet Sport News Africa, with journalist Malang Sané citing sources close to the player, who debunked the rumors.
“According to those sources, the fake statement attributed to Mané and republished by Le Quotidien appears to have been generated using artificial intelligence,” L’Équipe said.
Mané was among the Senegal lineup called up by Pape Thiaw for the World Cup.
Senegal’s participation, which ended in the Round of 32, was marked by several rumors and controversies, including alleged internal issues within the team. Rumors suggested the Senegal team traveled to the US without their chef, and that Thiaw was working without a contract or salary, alongside several members of his technical staff.
