LAST UPDATE | 17 Nov 2022
SENEGAL’S SADIO MANE has been ruled out of the World Cup after failing to recover from an injury, team officials have announced.
The former Liverpool forward was forced off after 20 minutes of Bayern Munich’s 6-1 win over Werder Bremen on 8 November.
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said Mane had taken a painful blow to his “tibial plateau” and would have an X-ray to determine the extent of the damage.
Sadio Mané est forfait pour la coupe du monde. Get well soon GAINDÉ 🇸🇳 ❤️🔥 #football #senegal #worldcup
— Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) November 17, 2022
pic.twitter.com/soaRhIDpWI
A further scan was recommended in Qatar and the Senegalese Football Federation has now taken the decision to rule Mane out of the World Cup.
Team doctor Manuel Afonso told a press conference: “Unfortunately, today’s MRI says his recovery has not been as encouraging as we had hoped and we have decided to declare Sadio Mane’s withdrawal from the World Cup.”
Mane is Senegal’s record scorer and scored the decisive penalty as his country beat Egypt to win the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
Senegal begin their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on 21 November and also face hosts Qatar and Ecuador in Group A.
🇸🇳 ❤️🔥 | #football #senegal pic.twitter.com/PXVJp4sRfH
— Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) November 17, 2022
Bayern Munich later provided more details on Mane’s injury, which required an operation.
“Sadio Mane underwent successful surgery in Innsbruck by Prof Christian Fink and Dr Andy Williams from London on Thursday evening,” a club statement read.
“During the operation, a tendon was reattached to the head of his right fibula. The FC Bayern forward will therefore no longer be available to play for Senegal at the World Cup and will begin his rehab in Munich in the next few days.”
ℹ️ Sadio Mané underwent successful surgery in Innsbruck on Thursday evening. He will therefore no longer be available to play for Senegal at the World Cup.
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) November 17, 2022
All the best for your recovery, Sadio! ❤️
Meanwhile, Argentina forward Nicolas Gonzalez suffered an injury in training on Thursday and is out of the World Cup, his country’s football federation (AFA) said.
The 24-year-old Fiorentina forward has been replaced by Angel Correa of Atletico Madrid.
“In training today, Nicolas Gonzalez tore a muscle and has been withdrawn from the list for the World Cup,” the AFA said in a statement.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said on Wednesday after his team thrashed the UAE 5-0 in their final warmup game that “some players are not 100 percent, we have a few small problems”.
Gonzalez, 24, was one of the players who sat out the match in Abu Dhabi as Argentina extended their unbeaten run to 36 matches.
Argentina face Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in their first Group C match, followed by Mexico and Poland.
- Additional reporting from – © AFP 2022
