Bayern Munich star forward Sadio Mane has been ruled out of the World Cup due to leg injury.
Mane sustained a leg injury playing for Bayern Munich on November 8, which put his hopes of featuring in Qatar in doubt.
Bayern said he sustained an injury to the head of his right fibula, but Mane was included in the Senegal squad for the finals in Qatar.
It was revealed he wouldn’t be fit in time to play in Senegal’s opening match against the Netherlands on Monday but now he won’t feature at the tournament at all.
And according to the Teranga Lions’ team doctor Manuel Afonso in a press conference: “Unfortunately, today’s MRI says his recovery has not been as encouraging as we had hoped and we have decided to declare Sadio Mane’s withdrawal from the World Cup.”
Bayern Munich later provided more details on Mane’s injury, which required an operation.
“Sadio Mane underwent successful surgery in Innsbruck by Prof Christian Fink and Dr Andy Williams from London on Thursday evening,” a club 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 begin their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Monday and also face hosts Qatar on November 25 and Ecuador on November 29 in Group A.
Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse was initially optimistic about Mane‘s chances of being able to play with the team to even use witch doctors in a bid to help his recovery.
Mane was key in Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations success in Cameroonin February and also scored the winning penalty that saw them beat Egypt in their World Cup play-off.
The 30-year-old, who has 34 goals in 93 caps for his country and is a the two-time African player of the year, was pivotal to the African champions’ hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
7 Comments
This news really saddens me, Sadio Mane’s performances were pivotal in his country’s recent successes and their qualification for the world cup.
I had been hoping to watch him as one of Africa’s biggest linchpins and bright sparks in the tournament. Senegal are truly deserving of a team that should participate in the World Cup unlike another abysmal team that just took advantage of Sunday Dare and Amaju Pinnick’s monumental stupidity and criminal incompetence. Plus, the current crop of Nigerian players are admittedly weak anyway.
Get well soon Mane and good luck to Senegal, Tunisia, Cameroon and Morocco in Qatar!
As the wc approaches, u experiencing AGONY more
Lol. The Super Eagles and Super Falcons have given me overdose of football agony already this year.
Go and enjoy the world cup, Selfie.
This is sad.Senegal carry the hope of Africa at this world cup.Anyway,another opportunity to birth another star. Senegal is not all about Mane but with him they are much stronger.
All the best to the five African teams.
What about the WITCH DOCTOR they were going to get for him?
Always sounding negative. I pray it won’t be long before you wake up from your sleep in the Seven Sleepers’ Den
What is bringing tears from the eyes of a farmer is what your Patridge is laughing over. May the Lord deliver you from the spirit of cynicism