On Wednesday, the French “L’Équipe” reported that Sadio Mané from FC Bayern will definitely miss the World Cup. Now Senegal and Munich can breathe a sigh of relief.
“One thing is certain: Sadio Mané will be part of the squad list tomorrow,” the French news agency “AFP” quoted an official of the Senegalese football association FSF as saying.
Coach Aliou Cissé will announce the final World Cup squad on Friday.
Even if Mané should be part of the squad, it is unclear to what extent the superstar can be used. “He stays calm, is professional and knows that injuries are part of his job,” said the official.
Nevertheless, there is hope in Senegal that Mané will still be fit, and an extraordinary doctor should help him.
I don’t know if they’re effective, but we’re going to use witch doctors. We hope for miracles! Sadio, you have to be there…” Senegalese Secretary General of Fifa Fatma Samoura told Europe 1.
In FC Bayern’s 6-1 thrashing of Werder Bremen on Tuesday, Mané injured his tendon in a duel and had to be substituted early. According to a club report, an “injury to the right fibula head” was diagnosed.
The bitter news of the impending end of the World Cup reached the highest political circles on Wednesday. “Sadio, I wish you a speedy recovery,” tweeted Senegalese President Macky Sall from Egypt. There he takes part in the world climate conference, but at the same time Sall is “with all his heart” with patient Mané, as he let him know: “God bless you!”
Senegal starts the World Cup against the Netherlands
The news of the injury to the right fibula head of the Bayern Munich superstar hit the football-crazy country to the core. “SM17” is a folk hero in its homeland and a brand like CR7 or RL9 elsewhere.
Augustin Senghor, president of the Senegalese Football Federation, told AFP news agency that he was “worried. Just imagine France losing Benzema…”
Senegal will play in a group with the hosts, Ecuador and the Netherlands at the World Cup in Qatar, which begins on November 20th.