Sadio Mane conquers Africa
Sadio Mane has been ruled out of the Qatar World Cup with a fibula injury, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) confirmed on Thursday.
Mane sustained the leg injury while playing in Bayern Munich’s 2-0 win over Schalke on Saturday, though he was deemed fit enough to be included in Aliou Cisse’s 26-man squad.
It was announced on Tuesday that Mane would not play any part in Senegal’s opening matches.
FSF had said the team “will have to rely on playing the first games without Sadio”.
But Thursday’s update confirms Mane’s injury will need surgery, thus ruling him out of the entire tournament in Qatar.
A short statement from the Federation read: “The FSF wishes a speedy recovery to its player Sadio Mane.”
It comes as a huge blow for both Mane and Senegal after he played an instrumental part in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph.
He scored the winning penalty kick in the final match against Egypt in February.
Senegal face Netherlands in their Group A opener on Monday before meeting Qatar and Ecuador.
Now, they will have to attempt to reach the knockout stages without their star attacker.(dpa/NAN)
