Sadio Mane named in Senegal 26-man World Cup squad despite injury concern

Published at :November 11, 2022 at 10:17 PM

Modified at :November 11, 2022 at 11:42 PM

The Bayern Munich star has been named in the team despite going off injured in a recent game

Sadio Mane, who picked up an injury in a Bayern Munich game, has been selected for Senegal's World Cup roster. The 30-year-old led African giants to the African Cup of Nations in January and World Cup qualification this year suffered a right fibula injury in Bayern's 6-1 hammering of Werder Bremen and will miss Bayern's final game before the World Cup against Schalke.

Mane suffered a major injury, which was bad enough to keep him from participating in the competition, as per French outlet L'Equipe. And this was a massive disappointment for the Senegalese before the showpiece.

Regardless of his injury, head coach Aliou Cisse included the former Liverpool player in his 26-man squad announcing the team at a press conference in Dakar on Friday.

"We're praying for miracles." He must be present: According to FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, Senegal would hire witch doctors to get wounded Sadio Mane to the World Cup.

After all, Mane, who was the runner-up in Ballon d'Or, will hope to be fit for the biggest tournament of his career.

However, it is still being determined whether Mane will be available for Senegal's opening World Cup contest against the Netherlands on November 21. The African giants have been seeded in Group A, which also contains the Netherlands, Ecuador, and the host country, Qatar.

This is Senegal's 26-man squad who are going to World Cup.

Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Seny Dieng (QPR), Alfred Gomis (Rennes).

Defenders: Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig), Pape Abou Cisse (Olympiacos), Formose Mendy (Amiens), Fode Ballo-Toure (AC Milan), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco).

Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester), Pape Gueye (Marseille), Pape Sarr (Tottenham), Moustapha Name (Pafos), Mamadou Loum (Reading), Krepin Diatta (Monaco).

Forwards: Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich), Ismaila Sarr (Watford), Bamba Dieng (Marseille), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United).