Former Liverpool star Sadio Mané has reportedly invested £15 million into a newly launched agriculture project in his hometown of Bambali, Senegal.
The Senegal international’s project, named SM10 Agro, is aimed at transforming the mango industry in the Sédhiou region while creating more than 1,000 direct jobs.
The project represents an investment of around 11.7 billion Senegalese CFA francs and will focus on producing, processing and adding value to locally grown mangoes.The project will include a 500-hectare mango plantation, processing facilities and an agricultural college.
The first stone is scheduled to be laid in Bambali on September 19, 2026.
Mané explained the motivation behind the project:
“The Sedhiou region loses 30 to 40 per cent of the mangoes it grows, because of failures to store and process them properly.
I want the wealth of our soil to remain here with us in Senegal. This initiative will employ 1,000 people from the outset.
Processing plants will be set up at Bambali, and one will specialise in making mango butter,” he explained.
“I want the young people and women of my region to have real opportunities for education.
Transport and delivery services for SM10 Agro will indirectly create extra jobs as well.”
SM10 Agro deputy director Aminata Tope added:
“We will plant 78,000 mango trees, with the first harvest expected in three years.
The college will also have a centre for research and development, and the factory will be able to produce 10,500 tons in output per year.”
The project represents another major investment by Mané in his hometown, which holds a profound place in his life.
He has previously financed community projects in Bambali, including a hospital and a secondary school.
Sadio’s Background
Sadio Mané was born on April 10, 1992, in Bambali, a village in Senegal’s Sédhiou region.
Mané grew up in a poor household and developed his passion for football from a young age.
He eventually joined the Génération Foot academy in Dakar before moving to France to begin his professional career with FC Metz.
He later moved to Red Bull Salzburg, where he established himself in European football, before joining Southampton for £11.8 million.
At Southampton, he made Premier League history by scoring a hat-trick against Aston Villa in just 176 seconds.
In 2016, Mané joined Liverpool for £34 million and formed a celebrated attacking partnership with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
At Anfield, he won the UEFA Champions League in 2019, the Premier League in 2020 and the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2018/19 season.After spells with Bayern Munich he move to Saudi Arabia club Al-Nassr.
Internationally, the forward also had some prestige. He led the Senegal national team to their historic first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory in 2021 and the controversial title in 2026.
The Sédhiou Region
Sédhiou, also known as Middle Casamance, is located in southwestern Senegal and is an important agricultural region.
The area is known for producing mangoes, cashew nuts, rice, millet, maize and groundnuts.
SM10 Agro is therefore designed to build on an existing agricultural economy by increasing local processing and retaining more of the value generated by the region’s produce.
In recent developments, Mané was left out of new Senegal coach Patrick Vieira’s first squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Vieira explained that the forward’s absence was due to a physical issue and indicated that he could return for the next international window.
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