It is a heavy blow, not just for Senegal but for Africa at large as Sadio Mane will have to miss this year’s World Cup. The former Liverpool star player will have a scan on a knee injury suffered in Bayern Munich’s 6-1 victory over Werder Bremen that moved them four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Sadio Mane went down in 15 minutes and had to be replaced by Leroy Sane. It comes just 13 days before his country Senegal play its first game at the 2022 World Cup against the Netherlands. Speaking “about the injury Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann said: “He’ll have to have an X-ray to see what’s happened.”
He also said: ”He took a blow to his tibial plateau [the head of the shin]. It’s a painful spot.” He is a key player for African champions Senegal, who face the Dutch in their opening Group A game on November 21 before taking on hosts Qatar, then Ecuador.
Sadio Mane’s penalty in the shootout win over Egypt helped Senegal win their first Africa Cup of Nations title earlier this year. Despite concern over the two-time African Footballer of the Year, Bayern’s assistant coach Dino Toppmoller later played down the possible extent of the injury.
He said: “[It’s] nothing too serious and his participation in the World Cup should not be in jeopardy.” Jamal Musiala fired Bayern ahead in five minutes, however, they were pegged back shortly after as Bremen put together a slick passing move before freeing Anthony Jung on the left to slot past Manuel Neuer.