Sadio Mané invests $20m in agro-industrial project in hometown

Sadio Mané has laid the foundation stone for a $20 million agro-industrial park in Bambali, the southern Senegalese village where he was born, with the former Liverpool star funding the entire project himself.

The SM10 Agro project, estimated at 11.7 billion CFA francs, is expected to be completed within 18 months and will cover 500 hectares of orchards.

The facility will feature four processing units with the capacity to handle 8,500 tonnes of produce annually and is projected to create more than 1,000 direct jobs at its launch.

A training centre and research facility will also form part of the project.

Asante, Afena Gyan, Others: List of players added to Black Stars squad after withdrawals

Mangoes will be at the heart of the operation, addressing a major challenge facing farmers in Moyenne-Casamance, where significant quantities of fruit reportedly go to waste each year due to limited storage and processing facilities.

Mané plans to process the mangoes into purée, dried mango and mango butter for both local consumption and export, with guava also included in the production plan.

“I want the fruits of the land to stay here,” he said.

The project marks a shift from Mané’s previous philanthropic efforts in Bambali, which include funding a mosque, school, hospital and petrol station, as well as opening a bakery.

At 34, Mané is seeking to turn his investment into a sustainable business that creates jobs and keeps more economic value within his community.

The Senegal legend retired from international football after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as the country’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals and 31 assists.

FKA/JKB

2027 AFCONQ: Black Stars Hold First Training Session Ahead of Côte d’Ivoire Clash