FIFA World Cup 2022: Senegal striker Sadio Mane ruled out with injury

Senegal has suffered a huge blow as their talismanic striker Sadio Mane has been ruled out of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 with a leg injury, the country federation announced on Thursday. Mane had picked up an injury during Bayern Munich’s 6-1 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundes Liga on November 8.

Despite the injury, Mane was included in Senegal’s World Cup squad and he was expected to miss the team’s opening match against the Netherlands. However, MRI scans have revealed that the former Liverpool forward will require to go under the knife and he won’t be able to play in Qatar.

“The latest news has arrived just now, and since the injury to Sadio Mane which happened on Nov. 8, we made contact very quickly with Bayern Munich to have the information,” Senegal team doctor Manuel Afonso told reporters. “The next day, the club communicated to us the images of the first MRI he undertook, which showed an injury to his right knee and for which we went to examine the player and take another look at the images right at the heart of the club.

“This is why I travelled on the 10th and 11th of November to get all of his data. It was decided to undergo another MRI today [Nov. 17] to understand the evolution and determine whether or not it was possible for Sadio Mane to keep his place at the World Cup.

“And, sadly, today’s MRI has shown that the evolution is not as favourable as we’d have imagined, and so we’ve resolved — sadly — to declare that Mane is forfeit for this World Cup, and normally a surgical intervention will be scheduled very shortly.”

Bayern Munich also confirmed that Mane’s surgery was successful and he will soon return to Munich.

“Sadio Mane underwent successful surgery in Innsbruck by Prof Christian Fink and Dr Andy Williams from London on Thursday evening,” their statement read.

“During the operation, a tendon was reattached to the head of his right fibula. The FC Bayern forward will therefore no longer be available to play for Senegal at the World Cup and will begin his rehab in Munich in the next few days.”

SENEGAL squad

Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy, Alfred Gomis, Seny Diang.

Defenders: Bouna Sarr, Saliou Ciss, Kalidou Koulibaly, Pape Abou Cisse, Abdou Diallo, Ibrahima Mbaye, Abdoulaye Seck, Fode Ballo Toure, Cheikhou Kouyate.

Midfielders: Pape Matar Sarr, Pape Gueye, Nampalys Mendy, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Moustapha Name, M. Loum Ndiaye, Joseph Lopy.

Forwards: Ismaila Sarr, Bamba Dieng, Keita Balde, Habib Diallo, Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhiou, Mame Babe Thiam.