The Mo Salah-Mane showdown ended in favour of the Senegal star, who fired home the winning penalty in a 4-2 shootout victory following a 0-0 draw in Cameroonian capital Yaounde.
"I told him he is a great player no matter what happened today. I have a lot of respect for him," Mane told beIN Sport after the game.
"He wanted to win the title but there are plenty of chances to come starting from the next 2023 Africa Cup of Nations," he added.
The 29-year old forward won the Player of the Tournament award after helping Senegal to their first ever Nations Cup title.
"It is an incredible feeling. We believed in ourselves and in our ability to win this title. God helped us to achieve our nation's dream," Mane concluded.
Follow the latest news on Google News
