Senegal’s red hot forward Sadio Mane is in a dilemma as the West African nation gears for the 2017 Nations Cup finals where they will play in the same group with Zimbabwe, Algeria and Tunisia.

In an interview with The Guardian of the United Kingdom, Mane admitted leaving Liverpool for the Nations Cup would be painful but the 24-year-old inform attacker still believes the title chasing Reds can cope without him.

On the other hand, Mane’s dream has always been to represent his country at international tournaments.

Senegal will play the Warriors on January 19 and Mane will be the biggest threats to Zimbabwe who are aiming to progress to the knockout stage of the Afcon finals for the first time in history.

Mane made British newspapers headlines on Monday night when he scored a stoppage time winner in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Everton in a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

“It will not be easy for me to go with Senegal next month,” Mané told The Guardian.

“I would love to carry on playing with my team-mates and help my team but I think they will understand because it is my country and it is my dream.”

Having qualified for the 2017 finals with a 100 percent record, Senegal’s Lions of Teranga will be among the favourites in Gabon.

They are the top ranked team in Africa ahead of Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria who complete the top five.

Zimbabwe are ranked 28th in Africa and 102 in the world.

According to The Guardian, Mané will miss Liverpool’s FA Cup third round tie at home to Plymouth Argyle or Newport County, both legs of the EFL Cup semi-final against his former club Southampton plus Premier League games against Manchester United, Swansea City, Chelsea and Hull City – should Senegal progress to the Afcon final.

“I will be wishing them (Liverpool) good luck but without me the team will be the same, even better. They will cope. [Philippe] Coutinho will come back. [Joël] Matip will come back and [Daniel] Sturridge is back now.

“I am very happy for him. It has not been easy for him being out. He has had a lot of injuries but you know he can deliver important performances. That is why the team will be strong,” he was quoted by The Guardian.

Mane has become an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and his captain, Jordan Henderson, believes the Senegalese’s game has improved in only six months of working with Klopp.

“I always knew he was a good player,” Henderson told The Guardian.

“I had watched him at Southampton and could tell what he was like from playing against him. Since he has come here, he has gone up another level.

“That is credit to the manager for helping him improve. It is also credit to him for wanting to improve.

“He has been fantastic and he will be a big miss when he goes away with Senegal but we have got players who can step in and we will deal with it. Whoever takes his place, it is up to them to carry on his work,” Henderson was quoted as saying.