World’s a stage for talisman Mane

Striker can help Senegal go one better this time

Sadio Mane: The jet-heeled forward will be crucial to Senegal’s World Cup hopes and will be his country’s talisman in attack.

The Liverpool player began the season slowly in the Premier League but found a rich vein of form at the end of the campaign, forming a crucial part of the club’s formidable attacking alongside Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.

Kalidou Koulibaly: Senegal boast a man-mountain at the back, whose pace and strength make him a formidable obstacle for opposing forwards to negotiate.

The defender has been a pillar of Napoli’s Serie A title challenge.

Cheikhou Kouyate: Senegal’s industrious captain gives them a physical presence. His all-action style in the middle of the pitch and imposing stature make him a natural leader.

FORM GUIDE:

Senegal’s last two World Cup warm-up matches both ended in draws – 1-1 with Uzbekistan and 0-0 with Bosnia. They are unbeaten in their last seven matches.

HOW THEY QUALIFIED:

Senegal’s 2018 World Cup campaign began poorly as they found themselves 2-0 down in Madagascar in the first leg of their preliminaryround tie before rallying to draw.

They went on to win the return match comfortably and progressed to dominate their group in the next round, but their route to the finals was not without controversy.

They lost 2-1 in South Africa, but the result was expunged after Fifa found the referee had manipulated the match on behalf of a betting syndicate.

Senegal won the replay to secure their berth.

PROSPECTS:

Senegal will fancy their chances of making it into the knockout rounds having been drawn in Group H alongside Poland, Colombia and Japan.

Should they make it to the second round they will play the first or second-placed team from Group G, which features Belgium, England, Panama and Tunisia. —