(Football news) Senegal’s talisman forward Sadio Mane's hopes of making the World Cup are in major doubt after he was injured playing for Bayern Munich against Werder Bremen on Tuesday evening. Mane has apparently picked up an injury to his right fibula during the first half of Bayern's 6-1 win over Werder Bremen. A medical update was issued on Wednesday by Bayern which said Mane would most likely miss their next match against Schalke and the club medical staff were also in contact with Senegal regarding his injury.
According to various sources there are fears among the squad that Mane will miss the World Cup, though we have to wait and see if Senegal do include him in the squad as they are going to announce their squad on Nov. 1. Even the Senegal football federation have yet to officially confirm the Bayern forward's situation. Senegal will be desperate to have Mane fit for their first match against the Netherlands on Nov. 21. Mane has 92 caps for Senegal and was named player of the tournament in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after he helped steer Aliou Cisse's side to the title. Mane also finished second in this year's Ballon d'Or behind Karim Benzema and was regarded as one of the world's best forwards this year. He joined the Bundesliga champions in the summer for €42 million from Liverpool.
It will be an anxious wait for the Senegalese fans as further scans and tests will uncover the true extent of the damage done to Mane's leg during the injury, which should then confirm his fate regarding whether he can head to Qatar or not with his nation. If Sadio Mane misses the World Cup, it will not only be a big loss to Senegal but also for the tournament in general as the former Liverpool player was one of the players to watch out for. He had a magnificent year with his Country leading them to the African Cup of Nations and he subsequently won the African player of the year also.
Bayern originally played down the injury on Tuesday postmatch, with assistant coach Dino Toppmoeller saying: "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."
Bayern have released an official statement confirming that Mane will be unavailable for the Bundesliga clash with Schalke this weekend. "Sadio Mane suffered an injury to his right fibula during FC Bayern's 6:1 win against Werder Bremen. 'Africa's Footballer of the Year' is out for the match against FC Schalke this Saturday,'' the statement reads. ''Further examinations will follow in the next few days, FC Bayern will exchange information with the medical side of the Senegalese Football Association.
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