Sadio Mane ruled out of 2022 FIFA World Cup due to an injury

The forward will be unable to participate in the tournament as he is not recovering from his injury.

Sadio Mane is not going to play in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The tournament is set to take place in Qatar from 20 November 2022 onwards. Senegal is one of the five African countries on the biggest stage in international football where they will play without their captain. The unavailability of their skipper comes as a huge setback for the reigning champions of the African Cup of Nations.

Sadio Mane made the final squad even though he was recovering from an injury that he picked up during FC Bayern Munich’s match against Werder Bremen. Although his participation was doubtful after suffering a leg injury, there were hopes that he would be fit enough to play in Qatar. As it stands, he will not recover in time which is a huge blow for African football fans in general.

A massive setback

Sadio Mane has 92 caps for the national team in which he has 33 goals. The former Liverpool FC attacker would have played a central role in Senegal’s campaign at the World Cup. Lions of Teranga look like the strongest African team at the tournament by many. The tournament will be fiercely competitive and enjoy huge viewership across the globe.

Post the confirmation of his inability to participate, Senegal’s chances have suffered a huge blow. The national team is in Group A alongside the host nation Qatar, the Netherlands and Ecuador. Unfortunately, there will be no reunion between Virgil Van Dijk and Sadio Mane. The latter is now set to sit out the World Cup.

As far as form goes, Sadio Mane was performing well for FC Bayern Munich. Since joining the Bundesliga outfit in the summer, the 30-year-old had 11 goals and four assists in 23 appearances in all competitions. 

Senegal plays their first 2022 FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands on 21 November 2022.