Qatar WC 2022: Injured Mane To Miss Crucial Opener Against The Netherlands

Teranga Lions forward Sadio Mané will miss the first game  of the World Cup in Qatar due to injury, FSF vice president – Abdoulaye Sow revealed to local media outlets in Senegal on Tuesday.

Mane, 30, was named in Senegal’s 26-man squad for the World Cup  last week despite sustaining an injury on his  right knee while playing for Bayern.

However, the former Saints man will have to watch on as he would not be able to play Senegal’s opener against the Netherlands.

Head coach coach Aliou Cissé says Mane, whose successful ‘sudden death’ penalties helped his country win the Africa Cup of Nations and qualify for the World Cup this year, doesn’t need surgery, but hopes Mane can be lined up from the go.

“We will have to rely on playing the first games without Mane because we have 25 players aside Sadio,” said Abdoulaye Sow, vice president of the Senegalese Football Federation on Tuesday.

After the Netherlands,  Senegal will also face hosts Qatar on November 25 and Ecuador on November 29 in Group A of the World Cup.

The Senegalese Football Federation at the 2021 AFCON managed the injury of Ismaila Sarr almost the same way, keeping him out of group stage and round of 16, as he started the competition from the quarter finals.

No doubt that Senegal plays better when Mane Mane’s boots grazes the earth. Mane has scored 33 goals in 92 games for Senegal.