Fifa World Cup 2022: Hammer blow for Senegal as Mane ruled out after surgery

The Senegal forward has undergone surgery on a knee injury he sustained playing for Bayern Munich and will miss the World Cup

His absence is a massive blow to the Senegalese having scored the winning penalty in a shoot-out victory against Egypt in the African Cup of Nations

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Injury has ruled Sadio Mane out of the World Cup. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:44pm, 18 Nov 2022

Senegal star Sadio Mane has lost his race to be fit for the 2022 World Cup and has been withdrawn from their squad, the country’s football federation announced on Thursday.

His club Bayern Munich added later that the 30-year-old, who was voted second in the Ballon d’Or last month behind Karim Benzema, had undergone “successful surgery” in Innsbruck where “a tendon was reattached to the head of his right fibula”.

Bayern said Mane will begin his rehab in Munich in the next few days.

The absence of the talismanic Mane is a massive blow to the Senegalese. He scored the winning penalty in a shoot-out victory against Egypt in the African Cup of Nations final and repeated the feat against the same opponents to qualify the Lions of Teranga for the World Cup.

Sadio Mane receives medical attention after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Everton. Photo: AFP

Mane was voted African footballer of the year for his feats, and has scored 33 times in 92 matches for Senegal.