Bayern Munich striker Sadio Mane has been included in the Senegal world cup squad, despite suffering an injury last Tuesday.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said he is hopeful his top striker would be fit on time to play in the Qatar 2022 soccer fiesta starting November 21 with a game against Netherlands.
The 30-year-old forward was forced off in the first half of Bayern Munich’s 6-1 victory over Werder Bremen. The German champions said he had an injury “to the head of his right fibula” and will miss Saturday’s game against Schalke.
“We are monitoring the situation and have sent one of our doctors to assess him,” Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said at a press conference in the Senegalese capital Dakar on Friday.
“On Thursday, Sadio spent the whole day in Munich before travelling to Austria for further tests. The good news is that he does not need an operation.
“We want the situation to evolve in two-three weeks. I don’t want to rule him out.”
Former Liverpool player Mane is Senegal’s star player and talisman, having scored the winning penalty when the Teranga Lions became continental champions for the first time in February, defeating Egypt in a shoot-out in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Less than two months later, Mane repeated the feat, netting the decisive spot-kick as Senegal beat Egypt – in a clash that again pitted him against then Liverpool team-mate Mohammed Salah – on penalties in a crunch play-off to qualify for Qatar. He is Senegal top scorer with 34 goals from 93 games.
