Senegal sweating on fitness of main man
SENEGAL forward Sadio Mane has sustained an injury to his right fibula and will miss Bayern Munich’s last league game before the World Cup, his club said yesterday, leaving his participation at the tournament in doubt.
Mane had to leave the pitch 20 minutes into Bayern’s crushing 6-1 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Tuesday and has been ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Schalke.
Bayern added Mane will undergo further tests to determine the extent of the injury.
“Further examinations will follow in the coming days, and FC Bayern is also in contact with the medical staff of the Senegalese Football Association,” the club said in a statement.
Reigning African Footballer of the Year Mane, 30, is a key player for Senegal, who will face the Netherlands in their Group A opener on 21 November. They will also take on Ecuador and hosts Qatar in Group A.
Mane scored the winning spot kick for Senegal as they beat Egypt on penalties to earn their first Africa Cup of Nations title in February.
Earlier Bayern assistant coach, Dino Toppmoeller, had said Mane’s injury is not “too serious” and the Senegal international should be fit in time for the World Cup in Qatar.
“Sadio Mane was hit on the leg, which caused him a little nerve pain. Nothing too serious and his participation in the World Cup should not be in jeopardy,” Toppmoeller told reporters.
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said. “I can’t say anything for sure, he took a blow to the head of his shin. That’s an unpleasant spot.”
Senegal manager Aliou Cisse is due to announce his squad tomorrow.