Sadio Mane, the Liverpool striker, will have painted his hometown red whatever the outcome of the Champions League final on Saturday.

Bambali, a small community in Senegal, will be swarming with the Liverpool jerseys Mane has dispatched direct from the club’s training base at Melwood.

Ever since football brought him wealth and fame, the 26-year-old has been sending donations home.

He has done so with one stipulation; there should be no publicity. Ahead of the meeting with Real Madrid, he made an exception.

“I bought 300 Liverpool jerseys to send to the people in the village, so the fans can wear to watch the final,” he revealed. “My family still live in the village and they are all going to be watching. Nobody in the village will work this day.”

Mane’s is not the only town or city in Africa sure to be backing Liverpool. Aside from the club’s vast global following, Mane believes the dashing style of Jurgen Klopp’s side makes them the neutrals’ favourites everywhere but Madrid and a few obvious corners of north-west England.