MUNICH – Doubts over Senegalese talisman Sadio Mane being fit for the World Cup Finals had a nation holding its collective breath on Wednesday, with Senegal President Macky Sall tweeting: “Sadio, heart of a Lion! All my heart is with you!”
Mane limped off after just 20 minutes of Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga clash with Werder Bremen on Tuesday and the 30-year-old forward is due to undergo further scans on his leg.
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said Mane had taken a blow to his right knee but French newspaper L’Equipe claimed it was a tendon injury and had ended his hopes of playing at the World Cup, which starts in Qatar on Nov 20.
Bayern, though, said later on Wednesday it was too early to say he would miss the World Cup.
“Sadio Mane has suffered an injury to his right fibula,” they said.
“He is out of the match against Schalke on Saturday. Further examinations will follow in the next few days.
“FC Bayern will exchange information with the Senegalese Football Association medical department.”
The two-time African Player of the Year – who finished runner-up to Karim Benzema for the Ballon d’Or award in October – is pivotal to the African champions’ hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
“Sadio, I wish you a speedy recovery following your injury,” tweeted President Sall.
“Like I said to you: Sadio, heart of a Lion! All my heart is with you! God bless you!”
Augustin Senghor, president of the Senegalese football federation, said he was “worried” but the team would just have to adapt if Mane – whose penalty in the shoot-out win over Egypt helped Senegal win their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title in February – failed to recover in time.
Senegal face the Netherlands in their opener on Nov 21 before further Group A matches against the hosts and Ecuador.
Argentina midfielder Giovani lo Celso has also been ruled out with a hamstring injury which requires surgery, Argentine media reported.
The 26-year-old was replaced during Villarreal’s La Liga loss against Athletic Bilbao on Oct 30 and scans confirmed that the midfielder suffered a hamstring tear.
Spanish media reported lo Celso, who is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, had exhausted all possible options to be on the flight to Qatar, including consultations with specialists from different parts of the world for a less invasive treatment.
Lo Celso was a key player in Argentina’s 2021 Copa America win and World Cup qualification.
He is a big loss for coach Lionel Scaloni, who must also assess the fitness of other injured players such as Paulo Dybala and Juan Foyth before announcing his final 26-man squad next week.
Argentina are in Group C and will begin their campaign against Saudi Arabia on Nov 22. They also face Mexico and Poland.
Mexico themselves suffered a blow, with Jesus Corona failing to recover from an ankle injury, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) said on Tuesday.
Corona underwent surgery after fracturing his left ankle while training with Sevilla in August.
Mexico coach Gerardo Martino had included Corona in his 31-man preliminary squad for Qatar. He had travelled to Seville to assess Corona’s fitness after Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli said the 29-year-old would not be fit for the Finals.
Martino is also keeping an eye on another key player, striker Raul Jimenez, who suffered a groin injury in September.
Mexico’s great Concacaf rivals, the United States, also had a setback as centre-back Chris Richards will miss the World Cup after failing to recover from a hamstring injury in time for the tournament, the Crystal Palace defender said on Tuesday.
The US face Group B opponents Wales on Nov 21 before playing England and Iran.
Meanwhile, Chelsea right-back Reece James confirmed on Wednesday he will not be in the Three Lions’ squad after picking up a knee injury in October, further depleting manager Gareth Southgate’s options in defence.
The England squad will be announced on Thursday. REUTERS
