Two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane will miss the World Cup after tests confirmed his fibula injury will need surgery.
Sadio Mane has been ruled out of the World Cup with a fibula injury, the Senegalese Football Federation confirmed on Thursday.
Mane suffered a leg problem while playing in Bayern Munich’s 2-0 win over Schalke on Saturday, although he was deemed fit enough to be included in Aliou Cisse’s 26-man squad.
It was announced on Tuesday that Mane would play no part in Senegal’s opening games, with Cisse’s side saying he would “have to rely on playing the first games without Sadio”.
But Thursday’s update confirms Mane’s injury will require surgery, ruling him out of the entire tournament in Qatar.
A brief statement from the Senegalese Football Federation read: “The FSF wishes a speedy recovery to its player Sadio Mane.”
It is a huge blow for both Mane and Senegal after he played a vital role in their Africa Cup of Nations triumph, scoring the winning penalty in the final against Egypt in February.
Senegal face the Netherlands in their Group A opener on Monday before taking on Qatar and Ecuador, although they will have to try to reach the knockout stages without their star striker.
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