Global site navigation

Senegal holds breath over talisman Mane making World Cup
Africa

Senegal holds breath over talisman Mane making World Cup

by  AFP 2 min read
Sadio Mane is a two-time African player of the year who finished runner-up to Karim Benzema for this year's Ballon d'Or
Sadio Mane is a two-time African player of the year who finished runner-up to Karim Benzema for this year's Ballon d'Or. Photo: Ronny Hartmann / AFP
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

Doubts over Senegalese talisman Sadio Mane being fit for the World Cup finals had a nation holding its collective breath on Wednesday with Senegal President Macky Sall tweeting: "Sadio, heart of a Lion! All my heart is with you!"

Mane limped off just after 20 minutes of Bayern Munich's Bundesliga clash with Werder Bremen on Tuesday and the 30-year-old forward is due to undergo further scans on his leg on Wednesday.

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said Mane had taken a blow to his right knee but French newspaper L'Equipe claimed it was a tendon injury and had ended his hopes of playing at the World Cup which gets underway in Qatar on November 18.

The two-time African player of the year -- who finished runner-up to Karim Benzema for the Ballon d'Or award in October -- is pivotal to the African champions hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.

Read also

US livid as basketball star Griner said moved to Russia penal colony

"Sadio, I wish you a speedy recovery following your injury in the Bayern-Werder Bremen match," tweeted Sall.

"Like I said to you: Sadio, heart of a Lion! All my heart is with you! God bless you!"

PAY ATTENTION: Never miss breaking news – join Briefly News' Telegram channel!

Augustin Senghor, president of the Senegalese football federation, told AFP he was "worried".

"Imagine if France lost Benzema," he said.

"We cross our fingers, we have been worried since we received the news yesterday.

"We are waiting for the Bayern medical staff to do their diagnosis and then to be officially informed by them.

"We want to wait for reliable information from the club itself."

Senghor said that the team would just have to adapt if Mane failed to recover in time.

Senegal -- who beat then world champions France in a group match on their way to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals -- are in Group A and begin their campaign against the Netherlands on November 21.

Read also

Shakira, Pique reach child custody deal after split

They follow up with a clash with hosts Qatar on November 25 and round off their group matches against Ecuador four days later.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.

Hot: