Sadio Mane was caught on camera ignoring a handshake offer from Senegal president Macky Sall after receiving a medal from the high-ranking politician along with the rest of his national teammates.
The 29-year-old didn't appear to do it intentionally, instead simply taking the opportunity to copy a celebration most commonly used by his Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino.
Mane donned the medal proudly as he quickly turned away from President Sall to interact with the thousands of adoring fans watching on.
Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations triumph has prompted wild celebrations across the nation, with Mane very much the poster boy for the momentous victory after he scored the crucial penalty to seal their fate as winners of the competition for the very first time.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Was Mane the AFCON Player of the Tournament? Comment below
They faced Egypt in a final that saw Mane actually miss his first effort from 12 yards in the early exchanges of the first half of normal time.
The rest of the 90 minutes as well as an added 30 for extra-time could not separate the sides ensuring the entire tournament would be decided via an intense penalty shootout.
Mane's Anfield teammate and Egypt talisman Mohamed Salah did not even get the chance to take his spot-kick after an earlier miss ensured Senegal could win the tie with their fifth effort.
After he had calmly slotted home his penalty with the weight of a nation on his shoulders, Mane revealed the Africa Cup of Nations is the most important honour of his career to date.
"I am very proud and I think it is the best moment of my life ever," the former Southampton forward told Goal.
"This day I think it is the best day. I won the Champions League and some trophies but I think this is the special one for me, this is more important for me."
Many Reds fans would have hoped Mane would return in time to face Leicester City on Thursday, but the forward received permission to stay in his home country and enjoy the celebrations a tad longer.
"Sadio flies out if it’s possible on Wednesday night, so will arrive here on Thursday, but he is, of course, then not involved in the Leicester game," Reds boss Jurgen Klopp told reporters.
"It means the world to him, it means the world to his people, it means the world to Senegal and we respect that a lot and we would never consider to have called back him from there or whatever – let them do what they do in the moment because they deserve it.
"They’ve had an incredibly intense time, so when he is back we will talk to him and we will see how we can use him."
Klopp went on to reveal the pair have actually been in communication while Mane has been away with his national side.
"We have texted a little bit here and there but he is still in Africa, still in Senegal, celebrating and we will see – Wednesday night or something like that we will send him out.
"But yes, it was obviously a big tournament and meant the world to him."
