11th November, 2022
Sadio Mane has been named to Senegal’s squad for this month’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar, despite injury concerns.
This year, the 30-year-old striker’s decisive penalty kicks helped his country qualify for both the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
He suffered a right fibula injury in Bayern Munich’s 6-1 win over Werder Bremen last weekend and will miss this weekend’s game against Schalke 04.
Coach Aliou Cisse, however, included the team’s talisman when he named his 26-man squad at a news conference in Dakar on Friday.
He expressed confidence in Mane’s ability to recover in time for the tournament.
According to the coach, Senegal sent a doctor from the Senegalese federation to examine Mane on Thursday and was told he would not need surgery.
“That’s very good news and we now have the chance to try and get him fit for the tournament. We now have two weeks to observe and see how the injury reacts to treatment,” Cisse said.
“I prefer to keep him in the squad because he is such an important part of us.”
The coach used the example of Watford attacker Ismaila Sarr, who had been injured going into last January’s AFCON finals but was included in the squad.
“He recovered after the first round to contribute to Senegal’s success in the tournament. We will do all in our power to ensure we can recover Mane in time to play,” Cisse added.
Reuters/NAN