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For the final day of the Premier League season BBC News Africa visited Liverpool forward Sadio Mane's hometown.

The Reds had a chance of ending a 29-year league title drought as they hosted Wolves at Anfield.

But Pep Guardiola's Manchester City were in the driving seat on the final day of the season knowing victory at Brighton would see them crowned champions of England for a consecutive season.

Still, the people of Bambali, Senegal gathered around a small television to watch on in support of their homegrown talent.

And though it wasn't to be for Liverpool who missed out on the title by a painful point, the 27-year-old put on a show scoring a brace which saw him pick up the Golden Boot award alongside team-mate Mohamed Salah and Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

(Image: Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Following the final whistle the children of the town flocked to the very pitch where Mane first learned to play football.

On the same, sandy patch the centre-forward first honed his skills, the kids run around wearing replica jerseys gifted by Mane.

Dahaba Diatta who trains the local youth team explained the inspiration the Liverpool striker gives to the 2,000 strong population.

The coach said: "They (the children) identify with Sadio Mane. He is our idol.

"Even the little children, when they start playing they say 'I'm Sadio Mane, I'm Sadio Mane', his name is everywhere."

During the game Mane's parents can't bear to watch, so his father, El Hadji Talibo Mane, spends his time praying at the local mosque.

Mane's dad proudly admitted: "He's working for everybody. He is also a strong believer. A good Muslim."

When asked if Mane has forgotten his hometown, Fode Boucar Dahaba, the President of the Regional League insists: "If Sadio comes around here, he behaves very humbly, on a level with the people here in Bambali.

"He doesn't arrive all dressed up, he stays in shorts like all of the villagers.

"Really he doesn't want to stand out and the village gives all this love back to him."

Sadio Mané may now be a Liverpool local, but what was it like growing up in Bambali, Senegal for the @ChampionsLeague finalist?



We went to get a tour of his hometown. #UCLFinal l @LFC l #SadioMane pic.twitter.com/VOyZxGk64W — BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) 1 June 2019

The former Southampton man is clearly very much a part of Bambali life, and has helped fund construction projects in the village which include a two-storey high school.

This has not only improved the safety of the pupils but also their studying conditions.

The Senegal international's former teacher, Omar Abdou Mendy, revealed what kind of pupil Mane was.

(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Mr Mendy reflected: "When he missed school it wasn't for anything other than football.

"You could see him playing with little kids. This is what pushed him to skip class and he skipped it only for football."

Last year Mane sent 300 shirts home for the people of his village to wear as Jurgen Klopp's side took on Real Madrid in the Kiev final.

The No. 10 scored a goal in the game but Liverpool were unable to overthrow Zinedine Zidane's team who ran out 3-1 winners.

Mane's uncle Ibrahim Toure admitted the village were more optimistic ahead of this year's final.

Toure said: "Last year Real Madrid were favourites but this year Liverpool are favourites against Tottenham.

"That's the reason we're convinced Liverpool will win the Champions League."

Mane was crowned a European champion as the Reds claimed their sixth title following a 2-0 win over Tottenham in Madrid.

It was the player's first major trophy during his five-year tenure in England.

And one that would have surely been celebrated in the same way the league title was mourned.

The Bambali children would have likely flocked to the same pitch to imitate their hometown hero, wearing the shirts the superstar had personally donated, to shout in turn 'I'm Sadio Mane, I'm Sadio Mane'.

The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off later this month, Senegal will do battle with Tanzania in their first group game clash.