Official: Sadio Mane’s World Cup Finishes Without Beginning

Senegalese star Sadio Mane has officially been withdrawn from the 2022 World Cup due to an injury on his right knee, the Senegalese Football Federation announced this Thursday.

The tiniest hope of Senegalese supporters to see Sadio Mané on the playing turf in Qatar flew away this Thursday, November 17 due to the doctor’s observation and advise.

Manuel Afonso, the Senegalese team doctor made the news official during a press conference in Doha. “Unfortunately, today’s MRI shows us that the evolution is not favorable as we imagined and we unfortunately resolve to declare Sadio’s withdrawal from the World Cup,” said the Teranga Lions’ team doctor, Dr. Manuel Afonso.

Injured with his club Bayern Munich on November 8, the N.10 of the Teranga Lions had been listed in the list of Lions for the World Cup, but had remained in Munich for treatment.

The FSF hoped that Mane might could start his tournament from the third group match, on November 29 against Ecuador. It was the hope of all Senegalese football lovers, who were optimistic for the man who gave them their first African Cup last January.

As at this Thursday, the African Player of the Year is sure not to compete for his second world. “Surgical intervention should even be scheduled very soon,” according to team doctor Afonso.

Coach Aliou Cissé has an uphill task to now find a replacement for him, from now till Sunday, a day before Senegal enters the competition, against the Netherlands. Senegal start their World Cup on Monday against the Netherlands.