Senegal and Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane has undergone surgery on a knee injury he sustained during his club’s game and it is now confirmed that he will miss the World Cup. On Tuesday, Senegal’s football federation said the 30-year-old would miss their “first games” at the tournament.
But a further MRI scan was completed on Thursday that showed surgical intervention was needed. Sadio Mane was forced off during Bayern’s Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen on 8 November. Bayern have confirmed the player had successful surgery on Thursday, to attach a tendon to the head of his right fibula
The statement also said: “The forward will begin his rehab in Munich in the next few days.” Senegal starts their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Monday. The West Africans are in Group A with games against hosts Qatar (25 November) and Ecuador (29 November) to follow.
It is a big blow for the world’s second-best player as he will miss the world and it is likely this is his last one. The next World Cup will be held in the next four years and by then he will be 34 and it is unlikely his current will take him along.