Sadio Mane reportedly experienced grief after learning that he would not be able to compete in the World Cup just 13 days before it began.
The information is a crushing blow for Senegal and a further letdown for Qatar 2022, which seems certain to lose another of its star athletes.
Just 20 minutes into Tuesday night’s Bundesliga match at home against Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich’s attacker was spotted staggering off the field.
After Bayern’s dominant 6-1 victory, assistant coach Dino Toppmoeller assuaged concerns over Mane’s fitness by claiming the issue is not “too significant.” However, manager Julian Nagelsmann acknowledged they will know more after a scan.
His World Cup dream is over, according to a report published on Wednesday morning in the French publication L’Equipe.
Mane is reportedly facing “many weeks” on the sidelines due to tendon damage to his leg, which would prevent him from playing in Qatar during the World Cup, which runs from November 20 to December 18.
If confirmed, the reports would be devastating for Senegal, who is expected to name its final team on Friday. Aliou Ciss, the manager, is expected to make the announcement.
Mane scored the go-ahead penalty in his country’s victory over Egypt in the World Cup play-offs, defeating Mohamed Salah, a colleague from Liverpool at the time. This earned his country a spot in Qatar.
On November 21, Senegal is scheduled to play the Netherlands in their World Cup opener. In Group A, they compete against Ecuador and the host nation Qatar.
Following the match against Werden Breman, Bayern No. 2 Toppmoeller downplayed Mane’s injury as “nerve pain” and said he should be ready for the World Cup.
Sadio Mane was struck on the leg, which led him to have some minor nerve pain, Toppmoeller said to the media.
“Nothing too serious and his participation in the World Cup should not be in jeopardy.”
The two-time African Footballer of the Year will have scans on the injury, Bayern manager Nagelsmann subsequently announced.
“I can’t say anything for sure, he took a blow to the head of his shin – that’s an unpleasant spot, it radiates a bit into the muscles,” Nagelsmann said.
“I think he has to go to the X-ray to see if there is something there, because it is splintering easily. But I hope that nothing is wrong. I can’t say anything for sure yet.”
Source: talkSPORT
Adam Ibrahim
Adam is passionate about politics and issues that affect governance. As a writer, he channels his energies into writing on pertinent national and political issues for the good of the Ghanaian people.